VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC and VERSO PAPER INC. as Issuers, andthe Guarantors named herein 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019 INDENTURE Datedas of January 26, 2011 WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Indenture Agreements
EX-4.1 2 dex41.htm INDENTURE DATED AS OF JANUARY 26, 2011 Indenture dated as of January 26, 2011

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC

and

VERSO PAPER INC.

as Issuers,

and the Guarantors named herein

8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of January 26, 2011

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page  
     ARTICLE 1   
     DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   

Section 1.01

     Definitions      1   

Section 1.02

     Other Definitions      38   

Section 1.03

     Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act      39   

Section 1.04

     Rules of Construction      39   
     ARTICLE 2   
     THE SECURITIES   

Section 2.01

     Amount of Securities      40   

Section 2.02

     Form and Dating      41   

Section 2.03

     Execution and Authentication      42   

Section 2.04

     Registrar and Paying Agent      43   

Section 2.05

     Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust      43   

Section 2.06

     Holder Lists      44   

Section 2.07

     Transfer and Exchange      44   

Section 2.08

     Replacement Securities      44   

Section 2.09

     Outstanding Securities      45   

Section 2.10

     Temporary Securities      45   

Section 2.11

     Cancellation      46   

Section 2.12

     Defaulted Interest      46   

Section 2.13

     CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc.      46   

Section 2.14

     Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities      46   
     ARTICLE 3   
     REDEMPTION   

Section 3.01

     Redemption      47   

Section 3.02

     Applicability of Article      47   

Section 3.03

     Notices to Trustee      47   

Section 3.04

     Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed      47   

Section 3.05

     Notice of Optional Redemption      48   

Section 3.06

     Effect of Notice of Redemption      49   

Section 3.07

     Deposit of Redemption Price      49   

Section 3.08

     Securities Redeemed in Part      49   

 

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     ARTICLE 4   
     COVENANTS   

Section 4.01

     Payment of Securities      49   

Section 4.02

     Reports and Other Information      50   

Section 4.03

     Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock      51   

Section 4.04

     Limitation on Restricted Payments      57   

Section 4.05

     Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries      63   

Section 4.06

     Asset Sales      65   

Section 4.07

     Transactions with Affiliates      68   

Section 4.08

     Change of Control      71   

Section 4.09

     Compliance Certificate      73   

Section 4.10

     Further Instruments and Acts      73   

Section 4.11

     Future Guarantors      73   

Section 4.12

     Liens      74   

Section 4.13

     Impairment of Security Interest      75   

Section 4.14

     Maintenance of Office or Agency      75   

Section 4.15

     Limitation on Business Activities of Finance Co.      75   

Section 4.16

     Further Assurances; Collateral Inspections and Reports; Costs and Indemnification; Further Collateral Related Matters      76   

Section 4.17

     Suspension of Certain Covenants      78   
     ARTICLE 5   
     SUCCESSOR COMPANY   

Section 5.01

     When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets      79   
     ARTICLE 6   
     DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

Section 6.01

     Events of Default      82   

Section 6.02

     Acceleration      84   

Section 6.03

     Other Remedies      85   

Section 6.04

     Waiver of Past Defaults      85   

Section 6.05

     Control by Majority      85   

Section 6.06

     Limitation on Suits      85   

Section 6.07

     Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment      86   

Section 6.08

     Collection Suit by Trustee      86   

Section 6.09

     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      86   

Section 6.10

     Priorities      87   

Section 6.11

     Undertaking for Costs      87   

Section 6.12

     Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws      87   

 

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     ARTICLE 7   
     TRUSTEE   

Section 7.01

     Duties of Trustee      88   

Section 7.02

     Rights of Trustee      89   

Section 7.03

     Individual Rights of Trustee      90   

Section 7.04

     Trustee’s Disclaimer      90   

Section 7.05

     Notice of Defaults      91   

Section 7.06

     Reports by Trustee to the Holders      91   

Section 7.07

     Compensation and Indemnity      91   

Section 7.08

     Replacement of Trustee      92   

Section 7.09

     Successor Trustee by Merger      93   

Section 7.10

     Eligibility; Disqualification      93   

Section 7.11

     Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers      93   
     ARTICLE 8   
     DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE   

Section 8.01

     Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance      94   

Section 8.02

     Conditions to Defeasance      95   

Section 8.03

     Application of Trust Money      96   

Section 8.04

     Repayment to Company      96   

Section 8.05

     Indemnity for Government Obligations      97   

Section 8.06

     Reinstatement      97   
     ARTICLE 9   
     AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS   

Section 9.01

     Without Consent of the Holders      97   

Section 9.02

     With Consent of the Holders      99   

Section 9.03

     Compliance with Trust Indenture Act      100   

Section 9.04

     Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers      100   

Section 9.05

     Notation on or Exchange of Securities      100   

Section 9.06

     Trustee to Sign Amendments      101   

Section 9.07

     Payment for Consent      101   

Section 9.08

     Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount      101   
     ARTICLE 10   
     RANKING OF NOTE LIENS   

Section 10.01

     Agreement for the Benefit of Holders of First Priority Liens and Parity Liens      101   

 

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Section 10.02

     Securities, Note Guaranties and other Obligations with respect to the Securities not Subordinated      103   

Section 10.03

     Relative Rights      103   
     ARTICLE 11   
     COLLATERAL AND SECURITY   

Section 11.01

     Security Documents      104   

Section 11.02

     Collateral Agent      105   

Section 11.03

     Authorization of Actions to Be Taken      106   

Section 11.04

     Release of Liens      107   

Section 11.05

     Filing, Recording and Opinions      108   

Section 11.06

     Purchaser Protected      109   

Section 11.07

     Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee      109   

Section 11.08

     Release Upon Termination of the Issuers’ Obligations      109   

Section 11.09

     Designations      110   
     ARTICLE 12   
     NOTE GUARANTIES   

Section 12.01

     Note Guaranties      110   

Section 12.02

     Limitation on Liability      112   

Section 12.03

     Successors and Assigns      113   

Section 12.04

     No Waiver      113   

Section 12.05

     Modification      113   

Section 12.06

     Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors      114   

Section 12.07

     Non-Impairment      114   
     ARTICLE 13   
     MISCELLANEOUS   

Section 13.01

     Trust Indenture Act Controls      114   

Section 13.02

     Notices      114   

Section 13.03

     Communication by the Holders with Other Holders      115   

Section 13.04

     Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent      115   

Section 13.05

     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion      115   

Section 13.06

     When Securities Disregarded      116   

Section 13.07

     Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar      116   

Section 13.08

     Legal Holidays      116   

Section 13.09

     GOVERNING LAW      116   

Section 13.10

     No Recourse Against Others      116   

Section 13.11

     Successors      117   

Section 13.12

     Multiple Originals      117   

 

iv


Section 13.13

     Table of Contents; Headings      117   

Section 13.14

     Indenture Controls      117   

Section 13.15

     Severability      117   

 

Appendix A        Provisions Relating to Initial Securities, Additional Securities and Exchange Securities
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit A        Initial Security
Exhibit B        Exchange Security
Exhibit C        Form of Transferee Letter of Representation
Exhibit D        Form of Supplemental Indenture

 

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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

 

  TIA

Section

 

Indenture
Section

310

 

13.01

(a)

 

7.10

(b)

 

7.08; 7.10

(b)(1)

 

7.10

311

 

13.01

(a)

 

7.11

(b)

 

7.11

312

 

13.01

(b)

 

13.03

(c)

 

13.03

313

 

13.01

(a)

 

7.06

(b)

 

7.06

314

 

13.01

(a)(4)

 

4.09

(b)

 

11.05

(b)(2)

 

11.05

(d)

 

11.05

315

 

13.01

316

 

13.01

317

 

13.01

318

 

13.01

 

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

vi


INDENTURE dated as of January 26, 2011 among VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), VERSO PAPER INC., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Co.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuer” and each an “Issuer”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (a) $360,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Original Securities”) issued on the date hereof, (b) any Additional Securities (as defined herein) that may be issued after the date hereof in the form of Exhibit A (all such securities in clauses (a) and (b) being referred to collectively as the “Initial Securities”) and (c) if and when issued as provided in the Registration Agreement (as defined in Appendix A hereto (the “Appendix”)) or otherwise registered under the Securities Act and issued, $360,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Exchange Securities”) issued in a Registered Exchange Offer (as defined in the Appendix) in exchange for any Initial Securities or otherwise registered under the Securities Act and issued in the form of Exhibit B. The Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities are referred to collectively as the “Securities” (and constitute a single series hereunder). Subject to the conditions and compliance with the covenants set forth herein, the Issuers may issue an unlimited aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities.

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

“Acquisition” means the acquisition by Affiliates of the Sponsors of certain assets and equity interests in certain entities, in each case relating to the catalog and magazine paper business of the Seller pursuant to the terms of the Agreement of Purchase and Sale.

“Acquisition Documents” means the Agreement of Purchase and Sale and any other document entered into in connection therewith, in each case as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time prior to the Issue Date or thereafter (so long as any amendment, supplement or modification after the Issue Date, together with all other amendments, supplements and modifications after the Issue Date, taken as a whole, is not more


disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the Acquisition Documents in effect on the Issue Date).

“Acquisition Transactions” means the Acquisition and the transactions related thereto, the offering of the Existing Second Lien Notes and the Senior Subordinated Notes and borrowings made pursuant to the Credit Agreement in connection therewith.

“Additional Securities” means 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019 issued under the terms of this Indenture subsequent to the Issue Date.

“Adjusted EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income:

(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2) Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

(3) Consolidated Non-cash Charges; plus

(4) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of inventory optimization programs, plant closures, retention, systems establishment costs and excess pension charges); provided that with respect to each business optimization expense or other restructuring charge, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying and quantifying such expense or charge and stating that such expense or charge is a business optimization expense or other restructuring charge, as the case may be; plus

(5) the amount of management, monitoring, consulting and advisory fees and related expenses paid to the Sponsors (or any accruals relating to such fees and related expenses) during such period pursuant to the terms of the agreements between the Sponsors and the Company and its Subsidiaries as described with particularity in the Offering Circular and as in effect on the Issue Date; plus

(6) non-operating expenses (minus non-operating income);

less, without duplication,

(7) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period).

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to

 

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any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

“Agreement of Purchase and Sale” means the agreement of purchase and sale, dated as of June 4, 2006, by and among International Paper Company, a New York corporation, Verso Investments LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and Verso Paper LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Security on any applicable redemption date, the greater of:

(1) 1% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Security; and

(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Security, at February 1, 2015 as set forth in Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Security through February 1, 2015 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Security.

“Asset Sale” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction) outside the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”) or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

 

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(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;

(d) any disposition of assets or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued have an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $10.0 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(f) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company, which in the event of an exchange of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of (A) $10.0 million shall be evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, and (B) $20.0 million shall be set forth in a resolution approved in good faith by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company;

(g) foreclosure on assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(h) any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(j) any sale of inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(k) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property;

(l) a transfer of accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein) by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(m) the sale of any property in a Sale/Leaseback Transaction within six months of the acquisition of such property; and

(n) any sale of Specified Non-Core Assets.

“Bank Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Agreement and the other Senior Credit Documents as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to either of the Issuers whether or not a claim for post-

 

4


filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City.

“Capital Stock” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

“Cash Contribution Amount” means the aggregate amount of cash contributions made to the capital of the Company described in the definition of “Contribution Indebtedness.”

“Cash Equivalents” means:

(1) U.S. Dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary, such local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing, not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the government of the jurisdiction of such Foreign Subsidiary, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in each case with maturities not

 

5


exceeding 270 days after the date of acquisition and held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(4) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $250 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

(5) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(6) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(7) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(8) Indebtedness issued by Persons (other than the Sponsors or any of their Affiliates) with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(9) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (8) above; and

(10) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (1) through (9) above denominated in euros or any other foreign currency and comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Subsidiary organized in such jurisdiction.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to a Person other than any of the Permitted Holders; or

(ii) the Issuers become aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or

 

6


Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any of the Permitted Holders, in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; or

(iii) individuals who on the Issue Date constituted the Board of Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors of the Company or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by (a) a vote of a majority of the directors of the Company then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved or (b) the Permitted Holders) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company then in office.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Collateral” means all the collateral described in the Security Documents.

“Collateral Agent” means the Trustee in its capacity as “Collateral Agent” under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents and any successor thereto in such capacity.

“Company” means the party named as such in the Preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other obligor on the Securities.

“consolidated” means, with respect to any Person, such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be accounted for as an Investment.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including amortization of original issue discount, the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations, and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations and excluding amortization of deferred financing fees and expensing of any bridge or other financing fees); plus

(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

 

7


(3) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any Receivables Financing which are payable to Persons other than the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; minus

(4) interest income for such period.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis; provided, however, that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses or income, expenses or charges (less all fees and expenses relating thereto), including, without limitation, any expenses related to any reconstruction, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses, any expenses constituting transition expenses attributable to the Company becoming an independent operating company in connection with the Acquisition Transactions, any severance expenses, any fees, expenses or charges related to any Equity Offering, Permitted Investment, acquisition or Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by this Indenture (in each case, whether or not successful), including any such fees, expenses, charges or change in control payments made under the Acquisition Documents or otherwise related to the Acquisition Transactions, in each case, shall be excluded;

(2) any increase in amortization or depreciation or any one-time non-cash charges increases or reductions in Net Income, in each case resulting from purchase accounting in connection with the Acquisition Transactions or any acquisition that is consummated after August 1, 2006 shall be excluded;

(3) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(4) any net after-tax income or loss from discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;

(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) shall be excluded;

(6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness shall be excluded;

(7) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period;

 

8


(8) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (A) of the definition of Cumulative Credit, the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Co. or any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person, to the extent not already included therein;

(9) an amount equal to the amount of Tax Distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person for such period;

(10) any impairment charges or asset write-offs and amortization of intangibles in each case arising pursuant to the application of GAAP shall be excluded;

(11) any non-cash expense realized or resulting from employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, grants of stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be excluded;

(12) any (a) severance or relocation costs or expenses, (b) one-time non-cash compensation charges, (c) the costs and expenses after August 1, 2006 related to employment of terminated employees, (d) costs or expenses realized in connection with, resulting from or in anticipation of the Acquisition Transactions or (e) costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights existing on the Issue Date of officers, directors and employees, in each case of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, shall be excluded;

(13) accruals and reserves that are established within 12 months after August 1, 2006 and that are so required to be established in accordance with GAAP shall be excluded;

(14) solely for purposes of calculating Adjusted EBITDA, (a) the Net Income of any Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall be calculated without deducting the income attributable to, or adding the losses attributable to, the minority equity interests of third parties in any non-wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiary except to the extent of dividends declared or paid in respect of such period or any prior period on the shares of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary held by such third parties and (b) any

 

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ordinary course dividend, distribution or other payment paid in cash and received from any Person in excess of amounts included in clause (7) above shall be included;

(15) (a)(i) the non-cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense shall be excluded and (ii) the cash portion of “straight-line” rent expense which exceeds the amount expensed in respect of such rent expense shall be included and (b) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 shall be excluded;

(16) unrealized gains and losses relating to hedging transactions and mark-to-market of Indebtedness denominated in foreign currencies resulting from the applications of Financial Accounting Standards 52 shall be excluded;

(17) solely for the purpose of calculating Restricted Payments, the difference, if positive, of the Consolidated Taxes of the Company calculated in accordance with GAAP and the actual Consolidated Taxes paid in cash by the Company during any Reference Period shall be included;

(18) any currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness, and any net loss or gain resulting from hedging transactions for currency exchange risk, shall be excluded; and

(19) non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under clauses (D) and (E) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit.”

“Consolidated Non-cash Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate depreciation, amortization and other non-cash expenses of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, but excluding any such charge which consists of or requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period.

“Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date of determination that constitutes First Priority Lien Obligations (with any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i)(y) deemed to be a First Priority Lien Obligation for this purpose in connection with any measurement of the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i)(y)) less the Unrestricted Cash of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on such date to (b) the aggregate amount of Adjusted EBITDA for the then most recent four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are available in each case with such pro forma adjustments to

 

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Consolidated Total Indebtedness and Adjusted EBITDA as are consistent with the pro forma adjustment provisions set forth in the definition of Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio; provided, however, that solely for purposes of the calculation of the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio, in connection with the Incurrence of any Lien pursuant to clause (6)(C) of the definition of “Permitted Liens,” the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries may elect, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness (including any Bank Indebtedness) which is to be secured by such Lien as being Incurred at such time and any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

“Consolidated Taxes” means provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise and similar taxes and any Tax Distributions taken into account in calculating Consolidated Net Income.

“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (1) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any undrawn letters of credit) consisting of Capitalized Lease Obligations, bankers’ acceptances, Indebtedness for borrowed money and Indebtedness in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services and (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries of Company, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

“Contribution Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of any Issuer or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount not greater than twice the aggregate amount of cash

 

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contributions (other than Excluded Contributions) made to the capital of such Issuer or such Guarantor after August 1, 2006; provided that:

(1) such cash contributions have not been used to make a Restricted Payment,

(2) if the aggregate principal amount of such Contribution Indebtedness is greater than the aggregate amount of such cash contributions to the capital of such Issuer or such Guarantor, as the case may be, the amount in excess shall be Indebtedness (other than Secured Indebtedness) with a Stated Maturity later than the Stated Maturity of the Securities, and

(3) such Contribution Indebtedness (a) is Incurred within 180 days after the making of such cash contributions and (b) is so designated as Contribution Indebtedness pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on the Incurrence date thereof.

“Credit Agreement” means (i) the credit agreement as in effect on the Issue Date, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the financial institutions named therein, and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent, and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Company to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

“Cumulative Credit” means the sum of (without duplication):

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period, the “Reference Period”) from July 1, 2006 to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(B) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash, received by the Company after August 1, 2006 from the issue or sale of Equity

 

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Interests of the Company (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount), including Equity Interests issued upon conversion of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), plus

(C) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash after August 1, 2006 (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Disqualified Stock and the Cash Contribution Amount), plus

(D) the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof issued after August 1, 2006 (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to a Restricted Subsidiary) which has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (provided in the case of any parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished), plus

(E) 100% of the aggregate amount received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of property other than cash received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(I) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and from repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to clause (vii) or (x) of Section 4.04(b)),

(II) the sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or

(III) a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(F) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Fair Market Value (as determined in accordance with the next succeeding sentence) of the Investment of the Company in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable), after taking into account any

 

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Indebtedness associated with the Unrestricted Subsidiary so designated or combined or any Indebtedness associated with the assets so transferred or conveyed (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to clause (vii) or (x) of Section 4.04(b) or constituted a Permitted Investment).

The Fair Market Value of property other than cash covered by clauses (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) of this definition of “Cumulative Credit” shall be determined in good faith by the Company and

(x) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $10.0 million, shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate or

(y) in the event of property with a Fair Market Value in excess of $20.0 million, shall be set forth in a resolution approved by at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Designated Non-cash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

“Discharge of Other Second-Lien Obligations” means the termination of all commitments to extend credit or purchase debt securities that would constitute Other Second-Lien Obligations and payment in full in cash of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on all Other Second-Lien Obligations and all Other Second-Lien Obligations that are due and payable at the time the Other Second-Lien Obligation is paid in full in cash.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale; provided that the relevant asset sale or change of control provisions, taken as a whole, are no more favorable in any material respect to holders of such Capital Stock than the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Securities and any purchase

 

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requirement triggered thereby may not become operative until compliance with the asset sale and change of control provisions applicable to the Securities (including the purchase of any Securities tendered pursuant thereto)),

(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part,

in each case prior to 91 days after the maturity date of the Securities; provided, however, that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided, further, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided, further, that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

“Equity Offering” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent’s common stock registered on Form S-8; and

(2) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” means the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer.

“Excluded Contributions” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company) received by the Company after August 1, 2006 from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

 

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(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate on or promptly after the date such capital contributions are made or the date such Capital Stock is sold, as the case may be.

“Existing Fixed Rate Second Lien Notes” means the 9.125% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2014 issued by Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc.

“Existing Second Lien Notes” means the (i) Second Priority Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2014 issued by Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc. and (ii) the Existing Fixed Rate Second Lien Notes.

“Existing Second Lien Notes Indenture” means the Indenture among the Issuers, Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, and the other parties thereto, dated as of August 1, 2006, with respect to the Existing Second Lien Notes, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

“Existing Senior Secured Notes” means the 11.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2014 issued by Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc.

“Existing Senior Secured Notes Indenture” means the Indenture among the Issuers, Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee, and the other parties thereto dated June 11, 2009 with respect to the Existing Senior Secured Notes, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

“First Priority After-Acquired Property” means any property (other than the initial collateral) of the Issuers or any Guarantor that secures any Secured Bank Indebtedness.

“First Priority Liens” means all Liens that secure the First Priority Lien Obligations.

“First Priority Lien Obligations” means (i) all Secured Bank Indebtedness, (ii) all other Obligations (not constituting Indebtedness) of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the agreements governing Secured Bank Indebtedness and (iii) all other Obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of Hedging Obligations or Obligations in respect of cash management services in each case that are secured by Liens granted pursuant to any Senior Credit Document.

 

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“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of revolving credit borrowings or revolving advances under any Qualified Receivables Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (including in the case of any such Incurrence or issuance a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom).

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has either determined to make or made after August 1, 2006 and during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “pro forma event”) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations (including the Acquisition Transactions) discontinued operations and operational changes (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, discontinued operation or operational change, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, consolidation or operational change had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Issuers as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, to reflect (1) operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable pro forma event (including, to the extent applicable, from the Acquisition Transactions), and (2) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in footnote 4 to the “Summary Historical Financial Data” under “Offering Circular Summary” in the Offering Circular to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such four-quarter period.

 

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If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Issuers may designate.

“Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period, and

(2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Flow Through Entity” means an entity that is treated as a partnership not taxable as a corporation, a grantor trust or a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes or subject to treatment on a comparable basis for purposes of state, local or foreign tax law.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory or the District of Columbia thereof and any direct or indirect subsidiary of such Restricted Subsidiary.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on August 1, 2006. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

 

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“Guarantor” means any Person that Incurs a Note Guaranty; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Note Guaranty in accordance with this Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates and/or commodity prices.

“Holder” or “Noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Increased Amount” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms or in the form of common stock of the Company, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness described in clause (3) of the definition of “Indebtedness”.

“Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except (i) any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business and (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP), which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

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(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business);

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; and

(4) to the extent not otherwise included, with respect to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the amount then outstanding (i.e., advanced, and received by, and available for use by, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) under any Receivables Financing (as set forth in the books and records of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and confirmed by the agent, trustee or other representative of the institution or group providing such Receivables Financing);

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations Incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) Obligations under or in respect of Qualified Receivables Financing or (5) obligations under the Acquisition Documents.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

“Intercreditor Agent” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

“Intercreditor Agreement” means the intercreditor agreement dated as of August 1, 2006 among Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch, as agent under the Senior Credit Documents, Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the Existing Second Lien Notes, the Issuers, each Guarantor and the other parties from time to time party thereto, as heretofore and

 

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hereafter amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and this Indenture.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency.

“Investment Grade Securities” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

 

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(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Issue Date” means January 26, 2011, the date on which the Original Securities are issued.

“Issuer” or “Issuers” means the Company and Finance Co., but not any of their respective Subsidiaries.

“Joinder and Supplement No. 3 to the Intercreditor Agreement” means the Joinder and Supplement No. 3 to the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of January 26, 2011 among the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee and others.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“Liquidity” means the Company’s Unrestricted Cash, together with committed and available borrowing capacity under its Credit Agreement.

“Management Group” means the group consisting of the directors, executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as the case may be, on the Issue Date together with (1) any new directors whose election by such boards of directors or whose nomination for election by the equity holders of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable, then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination was previously so approved and (2) executive officers and other management personnel of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable, hired at a time when the directors on the Issue Date together with the directors so approved constituted a majority of the directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends.

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash

 

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Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto) or any Tax Distributions resulting therefrom, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)(i)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

“Note Guaranty” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities by any Person in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Securities Obligations shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the Holders of the Securities.

“Offering Circular” means the offering memorandum relating to the offering of the Original Securities dated January 11, 2011.

“Offering Transactions” refers collectively to (1) the offering of the Original Securities, (2) the cash tender offer with respect to any and all Existing Fixed Rate Second Lien Notes described under the heading “Offering Circular Summary” in the Offering Circular, (3) if necessary, the redemption of any remaining Existing Fixed Rate Second Lien Notes and (4) the use of the proceeds from the offering of the Original Securities as described in further detail under the heading “Use of Proceeds” in the Offering Circular.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company or Finance Co.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture; provided, however, that in the case of any Officers’

 

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Certificate that is dated the date hereof, only one Officer shall be required to sign such Officers’ Certificate.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

“Other Second-Lien Obligations” means other Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries that is equally and ratably secured with the Securities and is designated by the Company as an Other Second-Lien Obligation including, without limitation, the Existing Second Lien Notes.

“Pari Passu Confirmation” means the Pari Passu Confirmation confirming that the liens and security interests created under the Mortgages are equal in priority to the liens and security interests under existing mortgages granted to the holders of Existing Second Lien Notes.

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means:

(1) with respect to any Issuer, the Securities and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Securities; and

(2) with respect to any Guarantor, its Note Guaranty and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Note Guaranty.

“Parity Lien” means, to the extent securing Parity Lien Obligations, a Lien granted by a Security Document and held by the Collateral Agent as security for the Securities Obligations and Parity Lien Obligations.

“Parity Lien Obligations” means Other Second-Lien Obligations and all other Obligations of any obligor under each indenture or agreement governing, securing or relating to any Other Second-Lien Obligations.

“Permitted Holders” means, at any time, each of (i) the Sponsors, (ii) the Management Group, (iii) any Person that has no material assets other than the Capital Stock of the Company and, directly or indirectly, holds or acquires 100% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, and of which no other Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), other than any of the other Permitted Holders, holds more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock thereof and (iv) any group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) the members of which include any of the Permitted Holders and that, directly or indirectly, hold or acquire beneficial ownership of the Voting Stock of the Company (a “Permitted Holder Group”), so long as (1) each member of the Permitted Holder Group has voting rights proportional to the percentage of ownership interests held or acquired by such member and (2) no Person or other “group” (other than Permitted Holders) beneficially owns more than 50% on a fully diluted basis of the Voting Stock held by the Permitted Holder Group. Any Person or group whose acquisition of beneficial ownership constitutes a Change of Control in respect of which a Change of Control Offer is made (or is not

 

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required to be made) in accordance with the requirements of this Indenture will thereafter, together with its Affiliates, constitute an additional Permitted Holder.

“Permitted Investments” means:

(1) any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, August 1, 2006;

(6) advances to employees not in excess of $15.0 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate;

(7) any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(x);

(9) any Investment by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made on or after August 1, 2006 pursuant to this clause (9), that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $100.0 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant

 

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to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made on or after August 1, 2006 pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of (x) $100.0 million and (y) 7.5% of Total Assets at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(11) loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable; provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (C) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit”;

(13) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (vi), (vii) and (xi)(B) of such Section);

(14) Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;

(15) guarantees issued in accordance with Sections 4.03 and 4.11;

(16) Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(17) any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness; provided, however, that any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary is in the form of a Purchase Money Note, contribution of additional receivables or an equity interest;

(18) additional Investments in joint ventures of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries existing on August 1, 2006 not to exceed $20.0 million at any one time;

 

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(19) any Investment in an entity which is not a Restricted Subsidiary to which a Restricted Subsidiary sells accounts receivable pursuant to a Qualified Receivables Financing; and

(20) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired after August 1, 2006 or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after August 1, 2006 to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation.

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties, Liens arising out of timber cutting, hauling or sales contracts, or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary, permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03, (B) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (iv) or (xx) of Section 4.03(b) (provided that in the case of clause (xx), such Lien does

 

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not extend to the property or assets of any Subsidiary of the Company other than a Foreign Subsidiary) and (C) Liens Incurred to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03(a), 4.03(b)(i) or 4.03(b)(xii) (or Section 4.03(b)(xiii) to the extent it guarantees any such Indebtedness) to the extent such Lien is Incurred pursuant to this clause (6)(C) as designated by the Company; provided, however, that, other than with respect to Liens Incurred to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03(b)(i) or 4.03(b)(xii) (or Section 4.03(b)(xiii) to the extent it guarantees such Indebtedness), at the time of Incurrence and after giving pro forma effect thereto (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.0; provided further, however, that the immediately preceding proviso shall not apply to any Lien which is deemed to be Incurred under this clause (6)(C) by reason of the second proviso to clause (20) of this definition of “Permitted Liens” (except to the extent such Lien also secures Indebtedness in addition to the Indebtedness permitted to be secured thereby under clause (20));

(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens described in clause 6(C) above);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided, further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that such Liens (other than Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xv)) are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided, further, however, that the Liens (other than Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xv)) may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than pursuant to after acquired property clauses in effect with respect to such Liens at the time of acquisition on property of the type that would have been subject to such Liens notwithstanding the occurrence of such acquisition);

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not Incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness;

(12) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued or

 

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created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

(15) Liens in favor of any Issuer or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Receivables Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(17) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (6)(B), 6(C), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property (including any after acquired property to the extent it would have been subject to the original Lien) that was subject to the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (6)(B), 6(C), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11) and (15) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided further, however, that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(C), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(C) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(C), for purposes of clause (1) of Section 11.04(a) and for purposes of the definition of Secured Bank Indebtedness;

 

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(21) Liens on equipment of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens Incurred to secure cash management services in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20.0 million at any one time outstanding;

(26) deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

(27) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(28) grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(29) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

(30) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(31) Liens arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution.

Any provider of additional extensions of credit shall be entitled to rely on the determination of an Officer that Liens Incurred satisfy clause (6)(C) above if such determination is set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to such provider; provided, however, that such determination will not affect whether such Lien actually was Incurred as permitted by clause (6)(C).

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

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“Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

“Purchase Money Note” means a promissory note of a Receivables Subsidiary evidencing a line of credit, which may be irrevocable, from the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to a Receivables Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, which note is intended to finance that portion of the purchase price that is not paid by cash or a contribution of equity.

“Qualified Receivables Financing” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

(1) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the Receivables Subsidiary;

(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company); and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure Bank Indebtedness, Indebtedness in respect of the Securities or any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to the Securities shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities for reasons outside of the Issuers’ control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“Receivables Fees” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Receivables Financing.

“Receivables Financing” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries); and (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing

 

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such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedging Obligations entered into by the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

“Receivables Repurchase Obligation” means any obligation of a seller of receivables in a Qualified Receivables Financing to repurchase receivables arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

“Receivables Subsidiary” means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Receivables Financing with the Company in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes an Investment and to which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company; and

(c) to which neither the Company nor any other Subsidiary of the Company has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board

 

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of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries shall mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company, including, without limitation, Finance Co.

“Sale/Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or between Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Secured Bank Indebtedness” means (i) any Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien Incurred or deemed Incurred pursuant to clause (6)(C) of the definition of Permitted Lien and (ii) the Existing Senior Secured Notes for so long as such notes are secured by a first priority Lien on the Collateral.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

“Securities” has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Securities Obligations” means all Obligations in respect of the Securities, the Note Guaranties and this Indenture.

“Security Documents” means the security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments and related agreements, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, creating the security interests in the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities as contemplated by this Indenture.

“Seller” means International Paper Company, a New York corporation.

“Senior Credit Documents” means the collective reference to the Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced, restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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“Senior Subordinated Notes” means the 11.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016 issued by Verso Paper Holdings LLC and Verso Paper Inc.

“Senior Subordinated Note Indenture” means the indenture dated as of August 1, 2006 among the Issuers, the Senior Subordinated Note Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

“Similar Business” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date or any business or activity that is reasonably similar thereto or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

“Specified Non-Core Assets” means hydro-electric dams and related assets.

“Sponsors” means (1) one or more investment funds controlled by Apollo Management, L.P. and its Affiliates (collectively, the “Apollo Sponsors”), (2) any Person that forms a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) with any Apollo Sponsors, provided that any Apollo Sponsor (x) owns a majority of the voting power and (y) controls a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company and (3) any other Affiliate of Apollo Management, L.P. that is neither a “portfolio company” (which means a company actively engaged in providing goods or services to unaffiliated customers), whether or not controlled, nor a company controlled by a “portfolio company”.

“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

“Subordinated Indebtedness” means (a) with respect to either of the Issuers, any Indebtedness of such Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities, and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Note Guaranty.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, and (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

“Tax Distributions” means any distributions described in Section 4.04(b)(xii).

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company, calculated on a pro forma basis giving effect to any subsequent acquisition or disposition of a Person or business.

“Treasury Rate” means, as of the applicable redemption date, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two business days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to February 1, 2015; provided, however, that if the period from such redemption date to February 1, 2015 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

“Trust Officer” means:

(1) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and

(2) who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Trustee” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

 

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“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

“Unrestricted Cash” means cash or Cash Equivalents of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that would not appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

(1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of such Person in the manner provided below; and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however, that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, further, however, that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a) or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, and without any further condition, qualification or action hereunder, subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date under the Existing Senior Secured Notes Indenture will be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required to be held by Foreign Subsidiaries) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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Section 1.02 Other Definitions

 

Term

 

Defined
in Section

“Additional Interest”   Appendix A
“Affiliate Transaction”   4.07
“Appendix”   Preamble
“Asset Sale Offer”   4.06(b)
“Bankruptcy Law”   6.01
“covenant defeasance option”   8.01(c)
“Covenant Suspension Event”   4.17
“Custodian”   6.01
“Definitive Security”   Appendix A
“Depository”   Appendix A
“Euroclear”   Appendix A
“Event of Default”   6.01
“Excess Proceeds”   4.06(b)
“Exchange Securities”   Preamble
“Global Securities Legend”   Appendix A
“Guaranteed Obligations”   12.01(a)
“IAI”   Appendix A
“incorporated provision”   13.01
“Initial Purchasers”   Appendix A
“Initial Securities”   Preamble
“legal defeasance option”   8.01(c)
“Mortgaged Property”   4.16(f)
“Mortgages”   4.16(f)
“Notice of Default”   6.01
“Offer Period”   4.06(d)
“Original Securities”   Preamble
“Paying Agent”   2.04(a)
“protected purchaser”   2.08
“Purchase Agreement”   Appendix A
“QIB”   Appendix A
“Refinancing Indebtedness”   4.03(b)
“Refunding Capital Stock”   4.04(b)
“Registered Exchange Offer”   Appendix A
“Registration Agreement”   Appendix A
“Registrar”   2.04(a)
“Regulation S”   Appendix A
“Regulation S Securities”   Appendix A
“Restricted Payment”   4.04(a)
“Restricted Period”   Appendix A
“Restricted Securities Legend”   Appendix A
“Retired Capital Stock”   4.04(b)
“Reversion Date”   4.17

 

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Term

 

Defined
in Section

“Rule 501”   Appendix A
“Rule 144A”   Appendix A
“Rule 144A Securities”   Appendix A
“Second Priority Liens”   10.01
“Securities Custodian”   Appendix A
“Shelf Registration Statement”   Appendix A
“Successor Company”   5.01(a)
“Successor Co-Issuer”   5.01(b)
“Successor Guarantor”   5.01(c)
“Suspended Covenants”   4.17
“Suspension Period”   4.17
“Transfer”   5.01(c)
“Transfer Restricted Global Security”   Appendix A
“Transfer Restricted Securities”   Appendix A
“Unrestricted Global Security”   Appendix A
“Unrestricted Security”   Appendix A

Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture incorporates by reference certain provisions of the TIA. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities and the Note Guaranties.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, the Guarantors and any other obligor on the Securities.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

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(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(h) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(j) “$” and “U.S. Dollars” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; and

(k) whenever in this Indenture or the Securities there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest, to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest are, were or would be payable in respect thereof.

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01 Amount of Securities. The aggregate principal amount of Original Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $360,000,000. All Securities shall be substantially identical except as to denomination.

The Issuers may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Securities under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the

 

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Indebtedness represented by such Additional Securities is at such time permitted by Section 4.03 and (ii) such Additional Securities are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Securities issued after the Issue Date (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 3.06, 4.06(e), 4.08(c) or the Appendix), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers’ Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Securities:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture,

(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Securities, including the date from which interest on such Additional Securities shall accrue;

(3) if applicable, that such Additional Securities shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Securities in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of the Appendix in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Securities registered, or any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof; and

(4) if applicable, that such Additional Securities that are not Transfer Restricted Securities shall not be issued in the form of Initial Securities as set forth in Exhibit A, but shall be issued in the form of Exchange Securities as set forth in Exhibit B.

If any of the terms of any Additional Securities are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or the indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Securities.

The Securities, including any Additional Securities, shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, provided that if any Additional Securities are not fungible with the Original Securities for United States Federal income tax purposes, such Additional Securities will have a separate CUSIP number.

Section 2.02 Form and Dating. Provisions relating to the Initial Securities and the Exchange Securities are set forth in the Appendix, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of

 

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authentication and (ii) any Additional Securities (if issued as Transfer Restricted Securities) and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Exchange Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Securities issued other than as Transfer Restricted Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which any Issuer or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Securities may be issuable in denominations of less than $2,000 solely to the extent necessary to accommodate book-entry positions that have been created in denominations of less than $2,000 by the Depository.

Section 2.03 Execution and Authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of each Issuer signed by one Officer (a) Original Securities for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $360,000,000, (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Securities in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein and (c) the Exchange Securities for issue in a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Agreement for a like principal amount of Initial Securities exchanged pursuant thereto or otherwise pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated and whether the Securities are to be Initial Securities or Exchange Securities.

One Officer shall sign the Securities for each Issuer by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall be valid nevertheless.

A Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Company. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

 

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Section 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent.

(a) The Issuers shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrars. The term “Paying Agent” includes the Paying Agent and any additional paying agents. The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and the Securities Custodian with respect to the Global Securities.

(b) The Issuers may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuers fail to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any of its domestically organized Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Issuers may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuers and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Issuers and the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

Section 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. Prior to each due date of the principal of and interest on any Security, the Issuers shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Issuers shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers in making any such payment. If the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

 

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Section 2.06 Holder Lists. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders as of such date.

Section 2.07 Transfer and Exchange. The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer and in compliance with the Appendix. When a Security is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other authorized governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Issuers shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of Securities to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuers, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuers, any Guarantor, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

Section 2.08 Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuers shall

 

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issue and, upon a written order of each Issuer signed by one Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Issuers or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuers or the Trustee prior to the Security being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuers, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee to protect the Trustee, a Paying Agent and the Registrar, and sufficient in the judgment of the Issuers to protect the Issuers, from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Issuers and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Security). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuers in their discretion may pay such Security instead of issuing a new Security in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Securities.

Section 2.09 Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Security surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuers receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Security ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Security and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

Section 2.10 Temporary Securities. In the event that Definitive Securities are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and, upon a written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate temporary

 

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Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers shall prepare, and upon a written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Securities and make them available for delivery in exchange for temporary Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Issuers, without charge to the Holder. Until such exchange, temporary Securities shall be entitled to the same rights, benefits and privileges as Definitive Securities.

Section 2.11 Cancellation. The Issuers at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures. The Issuers may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Securities in place of canceled Securities other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Section 2.12 Defaulted Interest. If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Securities, the Issuers shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Securities (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Issuers may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date. The Issuers shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected Holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

Section 2.13 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, etc. The Issuers in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption, that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall advise the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

Section 2.14 Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities. The aggregate principal amount of the Securities, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Securities at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Securities, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of

 

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determination, of Securities, the Holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Securities then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.09 and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Company and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

Section 3.01 Redemption. The Securities may be redeemed, in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Securities set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

Section 3.02 Applicability of Article. Redemption of Securities at the election of the Issuers or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article.

Section 3.03 Notices to Trustee. If the Issuers elect to redeem Securities pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security, they shall notify the Trustee in writing of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Issuers shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Security, unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein. If fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the record date relating to such redemption shall be selected by the Company and given to the Trustee, which record date shall be not fewer than 15 days after the date of notice to the Trustee. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.

Section 3.04 Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. In the case of any partial redemption of Securities, selection of Securities for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed, or if the Securities are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements and the requirements of the Depository); provided that no Securities of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called

 

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for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $2,000. Securities and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities to be redeemed.

Section 3.05 Notice of Optional Redemption.

(a) At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the applicable Security, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

Any such notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to the redemption date;

(iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(iv) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Issuers default in making such redemption payment, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Securities being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

(b) At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuers’ name and at the Issuers’ expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section at least five Business Days prior to the date of giving such notice of redemption.

 

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Section 3.06 Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.05, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as provided in the final sentence of paragraph 5 of the Securities. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, to, but not including, the redemption date; provided, however, that if the redemption date is after a regular record date and on or prior to the interest payment date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant record date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

Section 3.07 Deposit of Redemption Price. With respect to any Securities, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Issuers shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) in immediately available funds money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuers to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Securities or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuers have deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Securities to be redeemed, unless the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

Section 3.08 Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Issuers shall execute and, upon a written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Company’s expense) a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Securities. The Issuers jointly and severally agree that they shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds as of 12:00 p.m. New York City time money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

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The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Securities to the extent lawful.

Section 4.02 Reports and Other Information.

(a) Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Company shall file with the SEC (and provide the Trustee and Holders with copies thereof, without cost to the Trustee and each Holder, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC),

(i) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(ii) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations, reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form),

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported (and in any event within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations), such other reports on Form 8-K (or any successor or comparable form), and

(iv) any other information, documents and other reports which the Company would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

provided, however, that the Company shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Company shall make available such information to prospective purchasers of Securities, including by posting such reports on the primary website of the Company or its Subsidiaries in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Company would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(b) In the event that:

(i) the rules and regulations of the SEC permit the Company and any direct or indirect parent of the Company to report at such parent entity’s level on a consolidated basis and

(ii) such parent entity of the Company is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the capital stock of the Company,

 

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such consolidated reporting at such parent entity’s level in a manner consistent with that described in this Section 4.02 for the Company shall satisfy this Section 4.02.

(c) The Company shall make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, the Company shall, for so long as any Securities remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, furnish to the Holders of the Securities and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports referred to above to the Trustee and the Holders if the Company has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available.

In the event that any direct or indirect parent of the Company is or becomes a Guarantor of the Securities, the Company may satisfy its obligations under this Section 4.02 with respect to financial information relating to the Company by furnishing financial information relating to such direct or indirect parent; provided that the same is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such direct or indirect parent and any of its Subsidiaries other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to the Company, the Guarantors and the other Subsidiaries of the Company on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for information purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuers’ compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively (subject to Article 7) on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 4.03 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.

(a) (i) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) the Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Finance Co. or a Guarantor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that any Issuer and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary may issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

 

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(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) the Incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time equal to the greater of (x) $770.0 million and (y) an amount such that, after giving effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness (and the application of the net proceeds therefrom), the Consolidated Secured Debt Ratio would be no greater than 3.25 to 1.00;

(ii) the Incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Original Securities (not including any Additional Securities) and the Note Guaranties, as applicable (including the Exchange Securities and the related guarantees thereof) and the Existing Second Lien Notes and the Senior Subordinated Notes outstanding on the Issue Date and, in each case, the related guarantees thereof;

(iii) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (after giving effect to the Offering Transactions) (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4.03(b) and other than the Existing Senior Secured Notes);

(iv) (a) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Disqualified Stock issued by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the purchase, lease, construction or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets (but no other material assets)) and (b) Acquired Indebtedness; in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding that was Incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), does not exceed the greater of $75.0 million and 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of Incurrence;

(v) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental or other permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or

 

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similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the Acquisition Transactions or any other acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is neither Finance Co. nor a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Company under the Securities; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(viii) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;

(ix) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if Finance Co. or a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not Finance Co. or a Guarantor such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Securities (in the case of Finance Co.) or the Note Guaranty of such Guarantor, as applicable; provided, further, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;

(x) Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred for speculative purposes and either: (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; and/or (3) for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales;

(xi) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(xii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount, which when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii), does not exceed $100.0 million at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (xii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which the Company, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xii));

(xiii) any guarantee (or co-issuance in the case of Finance Co.) by an Issuer or a Guarantor of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by such Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or the Note Guaranty of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee (or co-issuance in the case of Finance Co.) of such Issuer or such Guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Securities or such Guarantor’s Note Guaranty with respect to the Securities, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities or the Note Guaranty of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;

(xiv) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) or clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (xiv), (xv), (xix) and/or (xx) of this Section 4.03(b) or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, including any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”) prior to its respective maturity; provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date one year following the last maturity date of any Securities then outstanding were instead due on such date one year following the last date of maturity of the Securities;

 

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(2) has a Stated Maturity which is not earlier than the earlier of (x) the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced or (y) 91 days following the maturity date of the Securities;

(3) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Securities or the Note Guaranty of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Securities or the Note Guaranty of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock;

(4) is Incurred in an aggregate amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium, fees and expenses Incurred in connection with such refinancing;

(5) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is neither Finance Co. nor a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of an Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary; and

(6) in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred to refinance Indebtedness outstanding under clause (iv) or (xix) of this Section 4.03(b), shall be deemed to have been Incurred and to be outstanding under such clause (iv) or (xix) of this Section 4.03(b), as applicable, and not this clause (xiv) for purposes of determining amounts outstanding under such clauses (iv) or (xix) of this Section 4.03(b);

provided, further, that subclauses (1), (2) and (3) of this clause (xiv) shall not apply to any refunding or refinancing of the Securities, the Existing Second Lien Notes or any Secured Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations.

(xv) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred to finance an acquisition or (y) Persons that are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged or amalgamated into the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided, however, that after giving effect to such acquisition and the Incurrence of such Indebtedness either:

(1) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be greater than immediately prior to such acquisition;

 

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(xvi) Indebtedness Incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Receivables Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(xvii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

(xviii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xix) Contribution Indebtedness;

(xx) Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries Incurred for working capital purposes;

(xxi) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (x) the financing of insurance premiums or (y) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business; and

(xxii) Indebtedness issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, or their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of the Company or any of its direct or indirect parent companies to the extent permitted under Section 4.04(b)(iv).

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, in the event that an item, or a portion of such item, taken by itself, of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xxi) above or such item is (or portion, taken by itself, would be) entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03. Subject to the preceding sentence, on the Issue Date, the Existing Senior Secured Notes shall initially be deemed to have been Incurred pursuant to clause (i) of Section 4.03(b). Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies shall not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the

 

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determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.

For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such U.S. dollar-denominated restriction shall be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, shall be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which such respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of such refinancing.

Section 4.04 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company; or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

 

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(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vii) and (ix) of Section 4.03(b); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on or after August 1, 2006 (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (iv) (only to the extent of one-half of the amounts paid pursuant to such clause), (vi) and (viii) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)), is less than the amount equal to the Cumulative Credit.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, any direct or indirect parent of the Company, Finance Co., or any Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”); and

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the

 

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Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of any Issuer or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of any Issuer or a Guarantor which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as

(A) the principal amount of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired for value (plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired plus any tender premiums, defeasance costs or other fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith),

(B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Securities or the related Note Guaranty, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired or (y) 91 days following the maturity date of the Securities, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date one year following the last maturity date of any Securities then outstanding were instead due on such date one year following the last date of maturity of the Securities;

(iv) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition (or dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Company to finance any such redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition) for value of Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company held by any future, present or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided, however, that the aggregate amounts paid under this clause (iv) do not exceed $15.0 million in any calendar year (with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over for the two succeeding calendar years, subject to a maximum payment (without giving effect

 

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to the following proviso) of $15.0 million in any calendar year); provided, further, however, that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) to members of management, directors or consultants of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of the Company that occurs after August 1, 2006 (provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend shall not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(3)); plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company (to the extent contributed to the Company) or the Company’s Restricted Subsidiaries after August 1, 2006;

provided that the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) above in any calendar year;

(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(vi) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions (a) to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after August 1, 2006 and (b) to any direct or indirect parent of the Company, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any direct or indirect parent of the Company issued after August 1, 2006; provided, however, that, (A) for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), the Company would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00 and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (vi) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by the Company from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after August 1, 2006;

(vii) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) on or after August 1, 2006, that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25.0 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each

 

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Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);

(viii) the payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock (or the payment of dividends to any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as the case may be, to fund the payment by such direct or indirect parent of the Company of dividends on such entity’s common stock) of up to 6% per annum of the net proceeds received by the Company from any public offering of common stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million;

(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xii) (a) with respect to each tax year or portion thereof that the Company qualifies as a Flow Through Entity, the distribution by the Company to the holders of Equity Interests of the Company (or to any direct or indirect parent of the Company or holders of Equity Interests in such parent); and

(b) with respect to any tax year or portion thereof that the Company does not qualify as a Flow Through Entity, the payment of dividends or other distributions to any direct or indirect parent company of the Company that files a consolidated U.S. federal tax return that includes the Company and its subsidiaries,

in each case in an amount not to exceed the amount that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would have been required to pay in respect of federal, state or local taxes (as the case may be) in respect of such year if the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries paid such taxes directly as a standalone taxpayer (or stand-alone group) (and deeming the Company to be a taxpaying corporation and parent of a group if it is a Flow Through Entity);

(xiii) the payment of any Restricted Payment or the making of loans or advances by the Company, if applicable:

(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, to pay fees and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, and general corporate overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, in each case to the extent such fees and expenses are

 

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attributable to the ownership or operation of the Company, if applicable, and its Subsidiaries;

(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, the Company Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03; and

(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of the Company to pay fees and expenses, other than to Affiliates of the Company, related to any unsuccessful equity or debt offering of such parent;

(xiv) cash dividends or other distributions on the Company’s Capital Stock used to, or the making of loans to any direct or indirect parent of the Company to, fund the Acquisition Transactions and the Offering Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses Incurred in connection with the Acquisition Transactions, the Offering Transactions or in respect of amounts owed by the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as the case may be, or Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company to Affiliates, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.07;

(xv) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(xvi) purchases of receivables pursuant to a Receivables Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing and the payment or distribution of Receivables Fees;

(xvii) Restricted Payments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment in good faith of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(xviii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions similar to those described under Sections 4.06 and 4.08; provided that all Securities tendered by Holders in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xix) any payments made, including any such payments made to any direct or indirect parent of the Company to enable it to make payments, in connection with the consummation of the Acquisition Transactions or as contemplated by the Acquisition Documents (other than payments to any Permitted Holder or any Affiliate thereof); and

(xx) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness, or any dividend or distribution to any direct

 

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or indirect parent of the Company to fund any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Indebtedness of such parent (a) in an aggregate amount not to exceed 50% of so-called “black liquor” payment proceeds received after March 31, 2009, (b) in an aggregate amount not to exceed 50% of the net proceeds from the sale of Specified Non-Core Assets, and (c) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million; provided that in the case of clauses (a), (b) and (c), no such repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions or retirements for value may be made from Affiliates of the Company and, in the case of clauses (a) or (c) on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Company’s Liquidity is at least $75.0 million;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (vi), (vii), (x) and (xi) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof.

(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries shall be Restricted Subsidiaries other than subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date under the Existing Senior Secured Notes Indenture, consisting of (i) Bucksport Leasing LLC and (ii) Verso Quinnesec REP LLC. The Company shall not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated shall be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation shall only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Section 4.05 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

(a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock; or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or

(c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

 

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(1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the other Senior Credit Documents, the Existing Senior Secured Notes, the Existing Second Lien Notes, the Senior Subordinated Notes and the guarantees thereof;

(2) this Indenture, the Securities (and any Exchange Securities and Note Guaranties thereof), the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement;

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person or its subsidiaries, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person or its subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Sections 4.03 and 4.12 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations or Capitalized Lease Obligations, in each case for property so acquired or leased in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the nature discussed in clause (c) above on the property so acquired;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the type described in clause (c) above on the property subject to such lease;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction of a Receivables Subsidiary effected in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided, however, that such restrictions apply only to such Receivables Subsidiary;

(12) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (i) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is Finance Co. or a Guarantor that is Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03 or (ii)

 

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that is Incurred by any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Guarantor subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03;

(13) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 or any Permitted Investment; or

(14) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (13) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock and (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to other Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances.

Section 4.06 Asset Sales.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Securities or any Note Guaranty) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or that are otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received), and

 

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(iii) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 3.0% of Total Assets and $45.0 million at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value)

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 365 days after the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company’s receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to repay Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations (and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), the Securities, Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary or Pari Passu Indebtedness (provided that if the Company or any Guarantor shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness (other than any First Priority Lien Obligation), the Issuers shall equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Securities through open market purchases (provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof) and/or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, of the pro rata principal amount of Securities) or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Issuer or a Guarantor, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company,

(ii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses (provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), assets, or property or capital expenditures, in each case used or useful in a Similar Business, and/or

(iii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses (provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale.

In the case of Sections 4.06(b)(ii) and (iii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment; provided that (x) such investment is consummated within 545 days after receipt by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale and (y) if such investment is not consummated

 

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within the period set forth in subclause (x), the Net Proceeds not so applied will be deemed to be Excess Proceeds (as defined below).

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of the Company may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Securities, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) shall be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $15 million, the Issuers shall make an offer to all Holders of Securities (and, at the option of the Issuers, to holders of any Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Securities (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness), that is at least $2,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event such Pari Passu Indebtedness was issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any (or, in respect of such Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness), to the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 4.06. The Issuers shall commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceeds $15 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of Section 4.06(f), with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Securities (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Issuers may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Securities (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(e). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

(c) The Issuers shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and

 

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hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Company, and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “Offer Period”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Company to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Securities tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with Section 4.06.

(e) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered by the Holder for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Securities (and such Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Issuers are required to purchase, selection of such Securities for purchase shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Securities are listed, or if such Securities are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements and the requirements of the Depository, if applicable); provided that no Securities of $2,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be made pursuant to the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness.

(f) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of Securities at such Holder’s registered address. If any Security is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

Section 4.07 Transactions with Affiliates.

(a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been

 

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obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) (A) transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (B) any merger of the Company and any direct parent of the Company; provided that such parent shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of the Company and such merger is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;

(iii) (x) the entering into of any agreement (and any amendment or modification of any such agreement) to pay, and the payment of, annual management, consulting, monitoring and advisory fees to the Sponsors in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year not to exceed the greater of (A) $2.5 million and (B) 2.0% of Adjusted EBITDA of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the immediately preceding fiscal year, and out-of-pocket expense reimbursement; provided, however, that any payment not made in any fiscal year may be carried forward and paid in the following two fiscal years and (y) the payment of the present value of all amounts payable pursuant to any agreement described in clause (iii)(x) of Section 4.07(b) in connection with the termination of such agreement;

(iv) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;

(v) payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Sponsors made for any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement services or in respect of other investment banking activities, including, without limitation, in connection with acquisitions or divestitures, which payments are (x) made pursuant to the agreements with the Sponsors described in the Offering Circular (or in the documents incorporated by reference into the Offering Circular) or (y) approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(vi) transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent

 

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Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

(vii) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith;

(viii) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company;

(ix) the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, Acquisition Documents, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any amendment thereto or similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter; provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (ix) to the extent that the terms of any such existing agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new agreement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the Holders of the Securities in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(x) the execution of the Offering Transactions and the payment of all fees and expenses related to the Offering Transactions, including fees to the Sponsors, which are described in the Offering Circular;

(xi) (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (B) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(xii) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Financing;

(xiii) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company to any Person;

 

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(xiv) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xv) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement and any payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)(xii);

(xvi) any contribution to the capital of the Company;

(xvii) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 5.01;

(xviii) transactions between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company; provided, however, that such director abstains from voting as a director of the Company or such direct or indirect parent, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

(xix) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xx) any employment agreements entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and

(xxi) intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company in an Officers’ Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Indenture.

Section 4.08 Change of Control.

(a) Upon a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require the Issuers to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided, however, that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers shall not be obligated to purchase any Securities pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that they have exercised their right to redeem such Securities in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture. In the event that at the time of such Change of Control the terms of the Bank Indebtedness or other senior Indebtedness restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section 4.08, then prior to the mailing of the notice to the Holders provided for in Section 4.08(b) but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Issuers shall (i) repay in full all Bank Indebtedness and other senior Indebtedness or, if doing so will allow the purchase of Securities, offer to repay in full all Bank Indebtedness and/or such other senior Indebtedness, as the case may be, and repay the Bank Indebtedness and/or such

 

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senior Indebtedness of each lender who has accepted such offer, or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing the Bank Indebtedness and such senior Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Securities as provided for in Section 4.08(b).

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Issuers have exercised their right to redeem the Securities in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture, the Company shall mail a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Issuers to repurchase such Holder’s Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Issuers, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities purchased.

(c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.

(d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Company under this Section shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Issuers shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in Section 4.08 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the

 

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Issuers and purchases all Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(g) Securities repurchased by the Issuers pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Securities issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Issuers. Securities purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (f) will have the status of Securities issued and outstanding.

(h) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08. A Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(i) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Company to make such offer have been complied with.

(j) The Issuers shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Issuers shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached their obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

Section 4.09 Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2011, an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA.

Section 4.10 Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

Section 4.11 Future Guarantors. The Company shall cause each Restricted Subsidiary that is a wholly-owned Domestic Subsidiary (unless such Subsidiary is Finance Co. or a Receivables Subsidiary) that

 

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(a) guarantees any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or

(b) incurs any Indebtedness or issues any shares of Disqualified Stock permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to clauses (i) or (xii) of Section 4.03(b) or not permitted to be Incurred by Section 4.03,

to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit D pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall guarantee payment of the Securities.

Section 4.12 Liens. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist (i) any Lien other than Permitted Liens on any asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness unless the Securities are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the Securities) the Indebtedness so secured until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by a Lien or (ii) any Lien securing any First Priority Lien Obligation of any Issuer or any Guarantor without effectively providing that the Securities or the applicable Note Guaranty, as the case may be, shall be granted a second priority security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) upon the assets or property constituting the collateral for such First Priority Lien Obligations, except as set forth under Section 4.16; provided, however, that (A) if granting such second priority security interest requires the consent of a third party, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent with respect to the second priority security interest for the benefit of the Trustee on behalf of the Holders; provided, further, however, that if such third party does not consent to the granting of such second priority security interest after the use of commercially reasonable efforts, the Company will not be required to provide such security interest and (B) the foregoing clause (ii) shall not apply in the case of any Lien on securities of any Affiliate of the Company, which will not be pledged to secure the Securities and the Note Guaranties. Clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall not require the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to secure the Securities if the relevant Lien consists of a Permitted Lien. Any Lien which is granted to secure the Securities or such Note Guaranty under clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 4.12 (unless also granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the first sentence of this Section 4.12) shall be automatically released and discharged at the same time as the release of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Securities or such Note Guaranty under such clause (i).

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.12, (i) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Liens described in clauses (1) through (31) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.12 but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (ii) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Liens described in clauses (1) through (31) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.12, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify, such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section

 

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4.12 and will only be required to include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien in one of the clauses of the definition of “Permitted Liens” and such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness will be treated as being Incurred or existing pursuant to only one of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph of this Section 4.12.

With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness.

Section 4.13 Impairment of Security Interest. Subject to the rights of the holders of Permitted Liens, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, take or knowingly or negligently omit to take, any action that would or could reasonably be expected to have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee and Holders, it being understood that any release of Collateral as permitted by this Indenture and the Security Documents will not be deemed to impair the security interests. The Company shall not amend, modify or supplement, or permit or consent to any amendment, modification or supplement of, the Security Documents in any way that would be adverse to the Holders in any material respect, except as permitted by Article 9 or as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 4.14 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

(a) The Issuers shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the corporate trust office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuers of their obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Issuers shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Issuers hereby designate the corporate trust office of the Trustee or its Agent as such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.04.

Section 4.15 Limitation on Business Activities of Finance Co. Finance Co. shall not own any material assets or other property, other than Indebtedness or other obligations owing to Finance Co. by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and Cash Equivalents, or engage in any trade or conduct any business other than treasury, cash management, hedging and cash pooling activities and activities incidental thereto. Finance Co. shall not Incur any material

 

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liabilities or obligations other than its obligations pursuant to the Securities, this Indenture, the Existing Second Lien Notes, the Existing Second Lien Notes Indenture, the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Senior Subordinated Note Indenture, the Credit Agreement and other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by Finance Co. under Section 4.03 and liabilities and obligations pursuant to business activities permitted by this Section 4.15. Finance Co. shall be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company at all times.

Section 4.16 Further Assurances; Collateral Inspections and Reports; Costs and Indemnification; Further Collateral Related Matters.

(a) If any Issuer or any of the Guarantors at any time acquires First Priority After-Acquired Property, the Company will, or will cause Finance Co. or such Guarantor to, concurrently:

(i) grant a Second Priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens, including First Priority Liens) on such property to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Securities Obligations and Parity Lien Obligations (and, to the extent such grant would require the execution and delivery of a Security Document, the Company or such Guarantor shall execute and deliver a Security Document on substantially the same terms as the agreement or instrument executed and delivered to secure the First Priority Lien Obligations, with such changes as may be necessary or advisable to reflect the second priority of the Liens securing the Securities Obligations and Parity Lien Obligations and in a manner consistent with the changes in the Security Documents executed on the Issue Date compared to the similar agreements securing the First Priority Lien Obligations); and

(ii) cause the Lien granted in such Security Document to be duly perfected in any manner permitted by law to the same extent as the First Priority Liens are perfected (but junior to such Lien pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement).

If granting a security interest in such property requires the consent of a third party, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent with respect to the Second Priority Liens for the benefit of the Trustee on behalf of the Holders. If such third party does not consent to the granting of the Second Priority Liens after the use of such commercially reasonable efforts, the applicable entity will not be required to provide such security interest.

If the Company or such Guarantor delivers an Opinion of Counsel to the holders of First Priority Lien Obligation in respect of the validity or perfection of any Lien grant referred to in this clause (a), the Company or such Guarantor shall also deliver an Opinion of Counsel with respect to such matters to the Trustee and Collateral Agent.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in clause (a) or elsewhere in this Indenture or any Security Document, no Liens on securities of any Affiliate of the Company shall be granted to secure the Securities Obligations.

(c) Upon request of the Collateral Agent at any time after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company will, and will cause its Restricted Subsidiaries to, (i) permit the Collateral Agent or any advisor, auditor, consultant, attorney or representative acting for the Collateral Agent, upon reasonable notice to the Company and during normal

 

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business hours, to visit and inspect any of the property of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, to review, make extracts from and copy the books and records of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries relating to any such property, and to discuss any matter pertaining to any such property with the officers and employees of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (ii) deliver to the Collateral Agent such reports, including valuations, relating to any such property or any Lien thereon as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request.

(d) The Issuers will bear and pay all reasonable legal expenses, collateral audit and valuation costs, filing fees, insurance premiums and other reasonable costs associated with the performance of the obligations of the Issuers and the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company set forth in this Section 4.16 and also will pay, or promptly reimburse the Trustee and Collateral Agent for, all costs and expenses incurred by the Trustee or Collateral Agent in connection therewith, including all reasonable fees and charges of any advisors, auditors, consultants, attorneys or representatives acting for the Trustee or for the Collateral Agent.

(e) On the Issue Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall execute such Security Documents (in form consistent with those securing the Existing Second Lien Notes) as shall be necessary to provide a second-priority perfected lien, junior to the First Priority Liens, on all assets pledged to secure the First Priority Lien Obligations, except as set forth in this Section 4.16.

(f) On or prior to the Issue Date, the Issuers and the Guarantors shall have used their commercially reasonable efforts to (i) provide mortgages (and any related Security Documents) in form substantially similar to those granted to the holders of Existing Second Lien Notes, with appropriate modifications (the “Mortgages”) for each parcel of real property held by the Issuers or any of the Guarantors to the extent that such assets secure the First Priority Lien Obligations (each, a “Mortgaged Property”), duly executed and delivered and suitable for recording or filing, (ii) deliver for recording or filing such Mortgages (and any related Security Documents) in such manner and such place as is required by law to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent granted pursuant to the Mortgages and shall pay in full all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith, (iii) provide Opinions of Counsel, delivered to the Collateral Agent in respect of the enforceability and validity of such Mortgages (and any related Security Documents), addressing customary matters (and containing customary exceptions reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), (iv) deliver the Pari Passu Confirmation executed by the trustee for the Existing Second Lien Notes and (v) deliver the Joinder and Supplement No. 3 to the Intercreditor Agreement. Notwithstanding clause (ii) of the first sentence of Section 4.12 and Section 4.16(a), if the Issuers and Guarantors are not able to complete such actions on or prior to the Issue Date, they will use their commercially reasonable efforts to complete such actions as soon as reasonably practicable after the Issue Date and in any event within 60 days following the Issue Date.

In connection therewith, the Issuers and Guarantors shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to the Collateral Agent on or prior to the Issue Date and in any event within 60 days following the Issue Date (i) copies of the existing surveys that were delivered with respect to each Mortgaged Property in connection with the issuance of the Existing Senior Secured Notes, (ii) evidence of insurance together with any required endorsements required to be maintained pursuant to the Mortgages and this Indenture, (iii) flood hazard determination

 

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certificates and duly executed notices to the record owner of each Mortgaged Property attached to evidence of acceptable flood insurance coverage if such Mortgaged Property is located in a flood zone. No separate title insurance policies shall be required to be delivered to the Trustee or Collateral Agent with respect to the Mortgages that will secure the Securities and the Note Guaranties. Instead, pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Holders of the Securities will share pari passu in any proceeds received by the Trustee or Collateral Agent with respect to the Existing Second Lien Notes under the existing title insurance policies that insure the Lien created under the existing mortgages securing the Existing Second Lien Notes.

Section 4.17 Suspension of Certain Covenants.

(a) If on any date following the Issue Date:

(i) the Securities have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies; and

(ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture

then, beginning on that day and continuing at all times thereafter (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “Covenant Suspension Event”) until the Reversion Date, if any, the covenants in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07 and 5.01(a)(iv) (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”) will not be applicable to the Securities.

(b) In the event that the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “Reversion Date”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Securities below an Investment Grade Rating, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events. The period of time between the Covenant Suspension Event and the Reversion Date is referred to as the “Suspension Period.”

(c) On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been Incurred or issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or one of the clauses set forth in Section 4.03(b) (to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would be permitted to be Incurred or issued thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness Incurred or issued prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to Sections 4.03(a) or 4.03(b), such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.03(b)(iii). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Issue Date and throughout the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a). No Default or Event

 

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of Default will be deemed to have occurred on the Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period.

(d) For purposes of Section 4.06, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

Section 5.01 When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets.

(a) The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

(ii) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(A) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

 

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(B) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be greater than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;

(v) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee confirmed that its Note Guaranty shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents; and

(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Company (if other than the Company) shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture and the Securities, and in such event the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv) of this Section 5.01, (a) any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary, and (b) the Company may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States or may convert into a limited liability company, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby. This Article 5 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

(b) Finance Co. may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person, unless:

(i) Finance Co. is the surviving person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than Finance Co.) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (Finance Co. or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called a “Successor Co-Issuer”);

(ii) the Successor Co-Issuer (if other than Finance Co.) expressly assumes all the obligations of Finance Co. under this Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and be continuing; and

 

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(iv) the Successor Co-Issuer (if other than Finance Co.) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 12.02(b) (which govern the release of a Note Guaranty upon the sale or disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor), no Guarantor shall, and the Company shall not permit any Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either (A) such Guarantor, as the case may be, is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Guarantor, as the case may be) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Guarantor,” in the case of a consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposal of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a Guarantor) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture, the Security Documents and, if applicable, such Guarantors’ Note Guaranty pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, or (B) such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06; and

(ii) the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor, under this Indenture and, such Guarantor’s Note Guaranty, and such Guarantor, will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and, such Guarantor’s Note Guaranty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States or may convert into a limited liability company so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Guarantor is not increased thereby and (2) a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with another Guarantor or an Issuer.

 

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In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, any Guarantor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (collectively, a “Transfer”) to, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not Finance Co. or a Guarantor; provided that at the time of each such Transfer the aggregate amount of all such Transfers since the Issue Date shall not exceed 5.0% of the consolidated assets of the Company, Finance Co. and the Guarantors as shown on the most recent available balance sheet of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after giving effect to each such Transfer and including all Transfers occurring from and after August 1, 2006 (excluding Transfers in connection with the Acquisition Transactions).

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs if:

(a) the Issuers default in any payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security when the same becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

(b) the Issuers default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Security when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise,

(c) either of the Issuers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company fails to comply with its obligations under Section 5.01,

(d) either of the Issuers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company fails to comply with any of its agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than those referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below,

(e) either of the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary fails to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to either of the Issuers or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $20 million or its foreign currency equivalent,

(f) either of the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

 

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(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against either of the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of either of the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of either of the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days,

(h) either of the Issuers or any Significant Subsidiary fails to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $20 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days following the entry thereof,

(i) any Note Guaranty of a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Note Guaranty and such Default continues for 10 days after the notice specified below,

(j) unless all of the Collateral has been released from the Second Priority Liens in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, any Issuer shall assert or any Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any such security interest is invalid or unenforceable and, in the case of any such Person that is a Subsidiary of the Company, the Company fails to cause such Subsidiary to rescind such assertions within 30 days after the Company has actual knowledge of such assertions, or

(k) the failure by any Issuer or any Guarantor to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Security Documents except for a failure that would not be material to the holders of the Securities and would not materially affect the value of the Collateral taken as a whole (together with the defaults described in clauses (i) and (j) the “security default provisions”).

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or

 

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pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A Default under clause (d) or (k) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Issuers, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities notify the Issuers and the Trustee of the Default and the Issuers do not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (d) and (k) above after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.” The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate of any event which is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default, its status and what action the Issuers are taking or propose to take with respect thereto.

Section 6.02 Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to either of the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Securities, by notice to the Issuers shall declare that the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities is due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to either of the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities, by notice to the Trustee, may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Securities as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

 

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Section 6.03 Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults. Provided the Securities are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Security, (b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Security when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Issuers, the Trustee and the Holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

Section 6.05 Control by Majority. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

(i) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

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(ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(iii) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

(iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.

(b) A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.

Section 6.07 Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers or any other obligor on the Securities for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Securities) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers or any Guarantor, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

 

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Section 6.10 Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6 (including upon realization of any Lien upon the Collateral), it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

SECOND: to the Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Company or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder and the Issuers a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities.

Section 6.12 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. Neither the Issuers nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuers and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a reasonable person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

 

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(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuers.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuers, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Issuers and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to

 

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this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon future Holders of Securities and upon Securities executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, any Note Guaranty or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers’ use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Issuers or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k) or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Issuers, any Guarantor or any Holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee for the Holders of the Securities and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the Holders of Securities and the Issuers having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to the Holders. As promptly as practicable after each May 31 beginning with the May 31 following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to August 30 in each year, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a brief report dated as of such May 31 that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities are listed. The Issuers agree to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuers shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuers shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuers and each Guarantor, jointly and severally shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Note Guaranty against the Issuers or a Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Issuers, any Guarantor, any Holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Securities or the removal or resignation of the Trustee. The Trustee shall notify the Issuers of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuers shall not relieve the Issuers or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Issuers shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuers’ expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Issuers and the Guarantors, as applicable shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided, however, that the Issuers shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuers and the Guarantors, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuers need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or

 

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expense incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

The Issuers’ and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuers, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuers. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuers shall remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Issuers or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuers shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuers. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee under this Indenture and the Securities to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of

 

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the Securities may petition at the expense of the Issuers any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuers’ obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Issuers are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

 

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ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

Section 8.01 Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance. This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights and immunities of the Trustee and rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Securities when:

(a) either (i) all the Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities pursuant to Section 2.08 which have been replaced or paid and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuers and thereafter repaid to the Issuers or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (ii) all of the Securities (a) have become due and payable, (b) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (c) if redeemable at the option of the Issuers, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuers, and the Issuers have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if Government Obligations have been so deposited) to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Issuers directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(b) the Issuers and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(c) the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuers at any time may terminate (i) all of their obligations under the Securities and this Indenture (“legal defeasance option”) or (ii) their obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 and 4.16 for the benefit of the Securities and the operation of Section 5.01 and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Company only), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Company only), 6.01(h), 6.01(i), 6.01(j) and 6.01(k) (but only to the extent that those provisions relate to Defaults with respect to the Securities) (“covenant defeasance option”) for the benefit of the Securities. The Issuers may exercise their legal defeasance option notwithstanding their prior exercise of their covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuers terminate all of their obligations under the

 

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Securities and this Indenture by exercising their legal defeasance option or their covenant defeasance option, the obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guaranty of such Securities and all obligations under the Security Documents shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.

If the Issuers exercise their legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuers exercise their covenant defeasance option, payment of the Securities so defeased may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(c), 6.01(d), 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (with respect to Significant Subsidiaries of the Company only), 6.01(h), 6.01(i), 6.01(j) or 6.01(k) or because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with Section 5.01.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuers, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuers terminate.

(d) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Issuers’ obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 7.07, 7.08 and in this Article 8 and the rights and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuers’ obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06 and the rights and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

Section 8.02 Conditions to Defeasance.

(a) The Issuers may exercise their legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option with respect to the Securities only if:

(i) the Issuers irrevocably deposit in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof in an amount sufficient or Government Obligations, the principal of and the interest on which will be sufficient, or a combination thereof sufficient, to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Securities when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date;

(ii) the Issuers deliver to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants reasonably acceptable to the Trustee expressing their opinion in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(iii) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Issuers occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

 

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(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Issuers;

(v) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

(vi) the defeasance does not impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Securities on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Securities;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Issuers shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(viii) the Issuers deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Issuers may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Securities at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

Section 8.03 Application of Trust Money. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities so discharged or defeased.

Section 8.04 Repayment to Company. Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuers upon request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article which, in the written opinion, in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants reasonably acceptable to the Trustee delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if Government

 

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Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuers upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuers for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

Section 8.05 Indemnity for Government Obligations. The Issuers shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such Government Obligations.

Section 8.06 Reinstatement. If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture and the Securities so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that, if the Issuers have made any payment of principal of or interest on, any such Securities because of the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 9.01 Without Consent of the Holders.

(a) The Issuers, the Guarantors (as applicable) and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Securities, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement, without notice to or consent of any Holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(ii) to conform any provision to the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Circular;

(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company or Successor Co-Issuer of the obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities;

 

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(iv) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Guarantor under this Indenture and its Note Guaranty;

(v) to comply with Article 5;

(vi) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided, however, that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(vii) to add additional assets as Collateral;

(viii) to release Collateral from the Lien pursuant to this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement when permitted or required by this Indenture or the Security Documents;

(ix) to add additional Note Guaranties with respect to the Securities or to secure the Securities;

(x) to add to the covenants of the Issuers for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Issuers;

(xi) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;

(xii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder; or

(xiii) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Securities or Additional Securities, which shall have terms substantially identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities, and which shall be treated, together with any outstanding Initial Securities, as a single issue of securities.

In addition, without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Security Documents may be amended to reflect the addition of holders of additional Secured Indebtedness to the extent the grant of Liens to secure such Indebtedness is permitted by this Indenture.

(b) An amendment under this Section 9.01 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article 10 or Article 12 of any holder of senior Indebtedness of the Issuers or a Guarantor then outstanding unless the holders of such senior Indebtedness (or any group or Representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

 

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Section 9.02 With Consent of the Holders. (a) The Issuers, the Guarantors (as applicable) and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Securities, any Security Document or the Intercreditor Agreement with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Securities). However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Security affected, an amendment may not:

(i) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment,

(ii) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Security,

(iii) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Security,

(iv) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may be redeemed in accordance with Article 3,

(v) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in such Security,

(vi) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of or premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Securities,

(vii) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second sentence of this Section 9.02,

(viii) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, modify any Note Guaranties in any manner adverse to the Holders,

(ix) expressly subordinate the Securities or any Note Guaranty in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or

(x) make any change in the provisions in the Security Documents or this Indenture dealing with the application of proceeds of Collateral that would adversely affect the holders of the Securities.

Subject to Section 11.04, without the consent of the holders of at least two-thirds in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, no amendment or waiver may release all or substantially all of the Collateral from the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

 

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Issuers certifying that the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuers, with copies of such consents provided to the Trustee, of consents by the Holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuers and the Trustee.

(b) The Issuers may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Issuers may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuers or the Trustee so determines, the Issuers in exchange for the Security shall issue and, upon a written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate

 

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notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if such amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity satisfactory to it and in all cases shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, (i) an Officers’ Certificate, (ii) and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers and the Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03), (iii) if requested by the Trustee, a copy of the Board Resolution, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iv) if such amendment, supplement or waiver is executed pursuant to Section 9.02, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders required to consent thereto.

Section 9.07 Payment for Consent. Neither the Issuers nor any Affiliate of the Issuers shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

Section 9.08 Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount. All Securities issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Securities may vote) as one class. Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article 9 and Section 2.14.

ARTICLE 10

RANKING OF NOTE LIENS

Section 10.01 Agreement for the Benefit of Holders of First Priority Liens and Parity Liens. The Trustee and the Collateral Agent agree, and each Holder by accepting a Security agrees, that:

 

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(a) the Liens securing the Securities Obligations (and, to the extent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder has an interest therein, the Parity Liens) (the “Second Priority Liens”) upon any and all Collateral are, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, subordinate in ranking to all present and future First Priority Liens; and

(b) the Second Priority Liens upon any and all Collateral will be of equal ranking with all present and future Parity Liens, and that such agreements as to the ranking of the Second Priority Liens:

(i) are enforceable by the holders of First Priority Liens, for the benefit of the holders of First Priority Lien Obligations secured thereby, and will be enforceable by the holders of Parity Liens, for the benefit of the holders of Parity Lien Obligations secured thereby;

(ii) will remain enforceable by the holders of First Priority Liens until the Discharge of Senior Lender Claims (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and the payment in full in cash of all other First Priority Lien Obligations outstanding at the time of the Discharge of Senior Lender Claims (subject to reinstatement as provided in the Intercreditor Agreement); and

(iii) will remain enforceable by the holders of Parity Liens until the Discharge of Other Second-Lien Obligations.

(c) without the necessity of any consent of or notice to the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities Obligations, the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and the Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement may amend, modify, supplement or terminate any Security Document, subject to the limitations set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, that the Trustee shall be given notice within 30 Business Days of any such amendment, modification, supplement or termination;

(d) as among the Trustee and the holders of the Securities Obligations and the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations, the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations and the Administrative Agent (as defined in Credit Agreement) will have the sole ability to control and obtain remedies with respect to all Collateral without the necessity of any consent of or notice to the Trustee or any such holder, as set forth in more detail in the Intercreditor Agreement;

(e) any or all Liens as set forth in, and granted under the Security Documents for the benefit of the Holders will be automatically released, without the necessity of any consent of the Trustee or any Holders, upon a release of the First Priority Liens on such Collateral or upon payment in full of the First Priority Lien Obligation, subject to the exceptions set forth in of the Intercreditor Agreement;

(f) without the necessity of any consent of or notice to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any holder of the Securities Obligations, the Company may, on behalf of itself or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, request and instruct the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to, on behalf of each secured party under the Security Documents, (A) execute

 

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and deliver to the Company, for the benefit of any Person, such release documents as the Company may reasonably request evidencing any such release of any Lien and such Person shall be entitled to rely conclusively on such release document, and (B) deliver any assets in which any Lien is so released that are in the possession of the Administrative Agent to the Company; and

(g) this Indenture, the Securities, the Note Guaranties and the Security Documents are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement.

Prior to the issuance of any Parity Lien Debt, the Company shall deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that the Company or the applicable Guarantor intends to Incur, on a date stated therein, Pari Passu Indebtedness that will constitute Parity Lien Debt.

Section 10.02 Securities, Note Guaranties and other Obligations with respect to the Securities not Subordinated. The provisions of this Article 10 are intended solely to set forth the relative ranking, as Liens, of the Second Priority Liens (and, to the extent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder has an interest therein, the Parity Liens) as against the First Priority Liens. The Securities and Note Guaranties are senior unsubordinated obligations of the Company and Guarantors. Neither the Securities, the Note Guaranties and other Securities Obligations nor the exercise or enforcement of any right or remedy for the payment or collection thereof (other than the exercise of rights and remedies of a secured party, which are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) are intended to be, or will ever be by reason of the provisions of this Article 10, in any respect subordinated, deferred, postponed, restricted or prejudiced.

Section 10.03 Relative Rights. The Intercreditor Agreement defines the relative rights, as lienholders, of holders of Second Priority Liens and holders of First Priority Liens and Parity Liens. Nothing in this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement will:

(a) impair, as between the Issuers and Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Issuers, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of, premium and interest on the Securities in accordance with their terms or to perform any other obligation of the Issuers or any other Obligor under this Indenture, the Securities, the Note Guaranties and the Security Documents;

(b) restrict the right of any Holder to sue for payments that are then due and owing, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;

(c) prevent the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder from exercising against the Issuers or any other obligor any of its other available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default (other than its rights as a secured party, which are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement); or

(d) restrict the right of the Trustee, the Collateral Agent or any Holder:

 

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(i) to file and prosecute a petition seeking an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case as to any Obligor or otherwise to commence, or seek relief commencing, any insolvency or liquidation Proceeding involuntarily against any Obligor;

(ii) to make, support or oppose any request for an order for dismissal, abstention or conversion in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding;

(iii) to make, support or oppose, in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding, any request for an order extending or terminating any period during which the debtor (or any other Person) has the exclusive right to propose a plan of reorganization or other dispositive restructuring or liquidation plan therein;

(iv) to seek the creation of, or appointment to, any official committee representing creditors (or certain of the creditors) in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings and, if appointed, to serve and act as a member of such committee without being in any respect restricted or bound by, or liable for, any of the obligations under this Article 10;

(v) to seek or object to the appointment of any professional person to serve in any capacity in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding or to support or object to any request for compensation made by any professional person or others therein;

(vi) to make, support or oppose any request for order appointing a trustee or examiner in any insolvency or liquidation proceedings; or

(vii) otherwise to make, support or oppose any request for relief in any insolvency or liquidation proceeding that it is permitted by law to make, support or oppose:

(x) if it were a holder of unsecured claims; or

(y) as to any matter relating to any plan of reorganization or other restructuring or liquidation plan or as to any matter relating to the administration of the estate or the disposition of the case or proceeding

(in each case except as set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement).

ARTICLE 11

COLLATERAL AND SECURITY

Section 11.01 Security Documents. The payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Securities when due, whether on an interest payment date, at maturity, by acceleration,

 

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repurchase, redemption or otherwise and whether by the Company pursuant to the Securities or by any Guarantor pursuant to its Note Guaranties, the payment of all other Securities Obligations and the performance of all other obligations of the Issuers and the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Securities, the Note Guaranties and the Security Documents are secured as provided in the Security Documents which the Issuers and the Guarantors have entered into simultaneously with the execution of this Indenture, or will enter into subsequent to the Issue Date as provided in Section 4.16 herein, and will be secured by Security Documents hereafter delivered as required or permitted by this Indenture.

The Issuers and the Guarantors shall comply with all covenants and agreements contained in the Security Documents.

Section 11.02 Collateral Agent.

(a) The Collateral Agent is authorized and empowered to appoint one or more co-Collateral Agents as it deems necessary or appropriate.

(b) Subject to Section 7.01, neither the Trustee nor the Collateral Agent nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, attorneys or agents will be responsible or liable for the existence, genuineness, value or protection of any Collateral, for the legality, enforceability, effectiveness or sufficiency of the Security Documents, for the creation, perfection, priority, sufficiency or protection of any Second Priority Lien, or for any defect or deficiency as to any such matters, or for any failure to demand, collect, foreclose or realize upon or otherwise enforce any of the Second Priority Liens or Security Documents or any delay in doing so.

(c) The Collateral Agent will be subject to such directions as may be given it by the Trustee from time to time (as required or permitted by this Indenture) and any other representatives of Parity Lien Obligations. Except as directed by the Trustee as required or permitted by this Indenture and any other representatives, the Collateral Agent will not be obligated:

(i) to act upon directions purported to be delivered to it by any other Person;

(ii) to foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any Second Priority Lien; or

(iii) to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any or all of the Second Priority Liens, Security Documents or Collateral.

(d) The Collateral Agent will be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the enforcement of the Second Priority Liens or Security Documents.

(e) In acting as Collateral Agent or Co-Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Co-Collateral Agent may rely upon and enforce each and all of the rights, powers, immunities, indemnities and benefits of the Trustee under Article 7 hereof.

(f) At all times when the Trustee is not itself the Collateral Agent, the Company will deliver to the Trustee copies of all Security Documents delivered to the Collateral

 

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Agent and copies of all documents delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Indenture and the Security Documents.

(g) If the Issuers (i) Incur First Priority Lien Obligations at any time when no intercreditor agreement is in effect or at any time when Indebtedness constituting First Priority Lien Obligations entitled to the benefit of an existing Intercreditor Agreement is concurrently retired, and (ii) delivers to the Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate so stating and requesting the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement (on substantially the same terms as the Intercreditor Agreement in effect on the Issue Date) in favor of a designated agent or representative for the holders of the First Priority Lien Obligations so Incurred, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby authorized and directed to) enter into such intercreditor agreement, bind the Holders on the terms set forth therein and perform and observe its obligations thereunder.

Section 11.03 Authorization of Actions to Be Taken.

(a) Each Holder, by its acceptance of Securities, consents and agrees to the terms of each Security Document and the Intercreditor Agreement, as originally in effect and as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, authorizes and directs the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents to which it is a party, authorizes and empowers the Trustee to direct the Collateral Agent to enter into, and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, the Intercreditor Agreement, and authorizes and empowers the Trustee and the Collateral Agent to bind the Holders and other holders of Securities Obligations as set forth in the Security Documents to which it is a party and the Intercreditor Agreement and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights and powers thereunder.

(b) The Collateral Agent and the Trustee are authorized and empowered to receive for the benefit of the Holders any funds collected or distributed under the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party and to make further distributions of such funds to the Holders according to the provisions of this Indenture.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02, Article 10 and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, direct, on behalf of the Holders, the Collateral Agent to take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to:

(i) foreclose upon or otherwise enforce any or all of the Second Priority Liens;

(ii) enforce any of the terms of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party; or

(iii) collect and receive payment of any and all Securities Obligations.

Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee is authorized and empowered to institute and maintain, or direct the Collateral Agent to institute and maintain, such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to protect or enforce the Second Priority Liens or the

 

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Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or to prevent any impairment of Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents to which the Collateral Agent or Trustee is a party or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interests and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral, including power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of Holders, the Trustee or the Collateral Agent.

Section 11.04 Release of Liens.

(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 11.04, Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents at any time or from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or as provided hereby. Upon the request of the Issuers pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate certifying that all conditions precedent hereunder have been met, the Issuers and the Guarantors will be entitled to a release of assets included in the Collateral from the Liens securing the Securities, and the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (if the Trustee is not then the Collateral Agent) shall release the same from such Liens at the Issuers’ sole cost and expense, under one or more of the following circumstances:

(1) if all other Liens on such property or assets securing First Priority Lien Obligations (including all commitments and letters of credit thereunder) are released; provided, however, that if the Issuers or any Guarantor subsequently Incurs First Priority Lien Obligations that are secured by liens on property or assets of the Issuers or any Guarantor of the type constituting the Collateral and the related Liens are Incurred in reliance on clause (6)(C) of the definition of Permitted Liens, then the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to reinstitute the security arrangements with respect to the Collateral in favor of the Securities, which, in the case of any such subsequent First Priority Lien Obligations, will be second priority Liens on the Collateral securing such First Priority Lien Obligations to the same extent provided by the Security Documents and on the terms and conditions of the security documents relating to such First Priority Lien Obligations, with the Second Priority Lien held either by the administrative agent, collateral agent or other representative for such First Priority Lien Obligations or by a collateral agent or other representative designated by the Company to hold the second priority Liens for the benefit of the holders of the Securities and subject to an intercreditor agreement that provides the administrative agent or collateral agent substantially the same rights and powers as afforded under the Intercreditor Agreement;

(2) to enable the Issuers or any Guarantor to consummate the disposition of such property or assets to the extent not prohibited under Section 4.06;

(3) in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Note Guaranty with respect to the Securities, the release of the property and assets of such Guarantor; or

 

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(4) as described under Article 9.

If an Event of Default under this Indenture exists on the date on which the First Priority Lien Obligations are repaid in full and terminated (including all commitments and letters of credit thereunder), the Second Priority Liens on the Collateral securing the Securities will not be released, except to the extent the Collateral or any portion thereof was disposed of in order to repay the First Priority Lien Obligations secured by the Collateral, and thereafter the Trustee (or another designated representative acting at the direction of the holders of a majority of outstanding principal amount of the Securities and Other Second-Lien Obligations) will have the right to direct the Intercreditor Agent to foreclose upon the Collateral (but in such event, the Liens on the Collateral securing the Securities will be released when such Event of Default and all other Events of Default under this Indenture cease to exist).

Upon receipt of such Officers’ Certificate and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Issuers, the Collateral Agent shall execute, deliver or acknowledge such instruments or releases to evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, no Collateral may be released from the Lien and security interest created by the Security Documents unless the Officers’ Certificate required by this Section 11.04, dated not more than five days prior to the date of the application for such release, has been delivered to the Collateral Agent and the Trustee (if the Trustee is not then the Collateral Agent).

(c) At any time when a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the maturity of the Securities has been accelerated (whether by declaration or otherwise) and the Trustee (if not then the Collateral Agent) has delivered a notice of acceleration to the Collateral Agent, no release of Collateral pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Security Documents will be effective as against the Holders, except as otherwise provided in the Intercreditor Agreement.

Section 11.05 Filing, Recording and Opinions.

(a) The Company will comply with the provisions of Sections 314(b) and 314(d) of the TIA, in each case following qualification of this Indenture pursuant to the TIA. Any certificate or opinion required by Section 314(d) of the TIA may be made by an Officer of the Company except in cases where Section 314(d) of the TIA requires that such certificate or opinion be made by an independent engineer, appraiser or other expert, who shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Issuers and the Guarantors will not be required to comply with all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the TIA if they determine, in good faith based on advice of counsel (which may be internal counsel), that under the terms of that section and/or any interpretation or guidance as to the meaning thereof of the Commission and its staff, including “no action” letters or exemptive orders, all or any portion of Section 314(d) of the TIA is inapplicable to the released Collateral. Following such qualification, to the extent the Company is required to furnish to the Trustee an Opinion of

 

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Counsel pursuant to Section 314(b)(2) of the TIA, the Company will furnish such opinion not more than 60 but not less than 30 days prior to each June 30.

Any release of Collateral permitted by Section 11.04 hereof will be deemed not to impair the Liens under this Indenture and the Security Documents in contravention thereof and any person that is required to deliver an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 314(d) of the TIA, shall be entitled to rely upon the foregoing as a basis for delivery of such certificate or opinion. The Trustee may, to the extent permitted by Section 7.01 and 7.02 hereof, accept as conclusive evidence of compliance with the foregoing provisions the appropriate statements contained in such documents and Opinion of Counsel.

(b) If any Collateral is released in accordance with this Indenture or any Security Document at a time when the Trustee is not itself also the Collateral Agent and if the Company has delivered the certificates and documents required by the Security Documents and Section 11.04, the Trustee will determine whether it has received all documentation required by Section 314(d) of the TIA in connection with such release and, based on such determination and the Opinion of Counsel delivered pursuant to Section 11.04, will, upon request, deliver a certificate to the Collateral Agent setting forth such determination.

Section 11.06 Purchaser Protected. In no event shall any purchaser in good faith of any property purported to be released hereunder be bound to ascertain the authority of the Collateral Agent or the Trustee to execute the release or to inquire as to the satisfaction of any conditions required by the provisions hereof for the exercise of such authority or to see to the application of any consideration given by such purchaser or other transferee; nor shall any purchaser or other transferee of any property or rights permitted by this Article 11 to be sold be under any obligation to ascertain or inquire into the authority of the Issuers or the applicable Guarantor to make any such sale or other transfer.

Section 11.07 Powers Exercisable by Receiver or Trustee. In case the Collateral shall be in the possession of a receiver or trustee, lawfully appointed, the powers conferred in this Article 11 upon the Issuers or a Guarantor with respect to the release, sale or other disposition of such property may be exercised by such receiver or trustee, and an instrument signed by such receiver or trustee shall be deemed the equivalent of any similar instrument of the Issuers or a Guarantor or of any officer or officers thereof required by the provisions of this Article 11; and if the Trustee shall be in the possession of the Collateral under any provision of this Indenture, then such powers may be exercised by the Trustee.

Section 11.08 Release Upon Termination of the Issuers’ Obligations. In the event (i) that the Issuers deliver to the Trustee, in form and substance acceptable to it, an Officers’ Certificate certifying that all the obligations under this Indenture, the Securities and the Security Documents have been satisfied and discharged by the payment in full of the Issuers’ obligations under the Securities, this Indenture and the Security Documents, and all such obligations have been so satisfied, or (ii) a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance of this Indenture occurs under Article 8, the Trustee shall deliver to the Issuers and the Collateral Agent a notice stating that the Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, disclaims and gives up any and all rights it has in or to the Collateral, and any rights it has under the Security Documents, and upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of such notice, the Collateral Agent shall be deemed not to hold a

 

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Lien in the Collateral on behalf of the Trustee and shall do or cause to be done all acts reasonably necessary and requested by the Issuers to release such Lien as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Section 11.09 Designations. Except as provided in the next sentence, for purposes of the provisions hereof and the Intercreditor Agreement requiring the Issuers to designate Indebtedness for the purposes of the terms “First Priority Lien Obligations” and “Other Second-Lien Obligations” or any other such designations hereunder or under the Intercreditor Agreement, any such designation shall be sufficient if the relevant designation is set forth in writing, signed on behalf of the Issuers by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee, the Collateral Agent and the Credit Agent. For all purposes hereof and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Issuers hereby designate the Obligations pursuant to the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Issue Date as “First Priority Lien Obligations.”

ARTICLE 12

NOTE GUARANTIES

Section 12.01 Note Guaranties.

(a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, of all obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture (including obligations to the Trustee) and the Securities, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on in respect of the Securities and all other monetary obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture and the Securities and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuers whether for fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from each such Guarantor, and that each such Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article 12 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuers of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuers or any other Person under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any Guarantor; (v) the failure of any Holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor

 

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of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor, except as provided in Section 12.02(b).

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuers first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuers’ or such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuers be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guaranty herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) [omitted]

(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 12.02 and 12.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Note Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Note Guaranty herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuers or otherwise.

(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuers to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the

 

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unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuers to the Holders and the Trustee.

(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of any Note Guaranty herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 12.01.

(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 12.01.

(k) Each Guarantor may, and upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall, execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

Section 12.02 Limitation on Liability.

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

(b) A Note Guaranty as to any Guarantor shall terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article 12 upon:

(i) the sale, disposition or other transfer (including through merger or consolidation) of the Capital Stock (including any sale, disposition or other transfer following which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary) of the applicable Guarantor if such sale, disposition or other transfer is made in compliance with this Indenture, and such Guarantor is released from its guarantees, if any, of, and all pledges and security, if any, granted in connection with, the Credit Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Issuers,

(ii) the Company designating such Guarantor to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions set forth under Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary,”

 

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(iii) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that after the Issue Date is required to guarantee the Securities pursuant to Section 4.11, the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or the repayment of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, in each case, which resulted in the obligation to guarantee the Securities, and

(iv) the Issuers’ exercise of their defeasance options under Article 8, or if the Issuers’ obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

A Note Guaranty also shall be automatically released upon the applicable Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing First Priority Lien Obligations, subject to, in each case, the application of the proceeds of such foreclosure in the manner set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement or if such Subsidiary is released from its guarantees of, and all pledges and security interests granted in connection with, the Credit Agreement and any other Indebtedness of the Issuers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company which results in the obligation to guarantee the Securities.

Section 12.03 Successors and Assigns. This Article 12 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

Section 12.04 No Waiver. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 12 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 12 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

Section 12.05 Modification. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 12, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

 

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Section 12.06 Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors. Each Subsidiary and other Person which is required to become a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in the form of Exhibit D hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary or other Person shall become a Guarantor under this Article 12 and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Issuers shall deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary or other Person and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Note Guaranty of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms and/or to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

Section 12.07 Non-Impairment. The failure to endorse a Note Guaranty on any Security shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the TIA, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

Section 13.02 Notices.

(a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Issuers or a Guarantor:

Verso Paper Holdings LLC

6775 Lenox Center Court, Suite 400

Memphis, Tennessee 38115

Attention: Robert Mundy

Facsimile: (901)  ###-###-####

if to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust Company

1100 North Market Street

 

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Wilmington, DE ###-###-####

Attention of: Corporate Capital Markets – Verso Paper Administrator

Facsimile: (302)  ###-###-####

The Issuers or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

Section 13.03 Communication by the Holders with Other Holders. The Holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

Section 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Issuers to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

Section 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 13.06 When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Issuers, any Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuers or any Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

Section 13.07 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the Holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 13.08 Legal Holidays. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 13.09 GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 13.10 No Recourse Against Others. No director, officer, employee, manager, incorporator or holder of any Equity Interests in the Issuers or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their

 

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creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.

Section 13.11 Successors. All agreements of the Issuers and each Guarantor in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 13.12 Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

Section 13.13 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 13.14 Indenture Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of the Securities limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

Section 13.15 Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ Robert P. Mundy

  Name:   Robert P. Mundy
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
VERSO PAPER INC.
By:  

/s/ Robert P. Mundy

  Name:   Robert P. Mundy
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

S-1


GUARANTORS:

VERSO PAPER LLC

VERSO ANDROSCOGGIN LLC

VERSO BUCKSPORT LLC

VERSO SARTELL LLC

VERSO QUINNESEC LLC

VERSO MAINE ENERGY LLC

VERSO FIBER FARM LLC

VERSO QUINNESEC REP HOLDING INC.

NEXTIER SOLUTIONS CORPORATION

By:  

/s/ Robert P. Mundy

  Name:   Robert P. Mundy
  Title:   Senior Vice President and
    Chief Financial Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Geoffrey J. Lewis

  Name:   Geoffrey J. Lewis
  Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

S-2


APPENDIX A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES, ADDITIONAL SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

1. Definitions.

1.1 Definitions.

For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

“Additional Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Agreement.

“Definitive Security” means a certificated Initial Security or Exchange Security (bearing the Restricted Securities Legend if the transfer of such Security is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Securities Legend.

“Depository” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

“Global Securities Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in the applicable Exhibit to this Indenture.

“IAI” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

“Initial Purchasers” means the initial purchasers named in the Purchase Agreement.

“Purchase Agreement” means (a) the Purchase Agreement dated January 11, 2011, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Representatives and (b) any other similar Purchase Agreement relating to Additional Securities.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

“Registered Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Issuers, pursuant to the Registration Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Securities, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for their Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act.

“Registration Agreement” means (a) the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 26, 2011 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Representatives relating to the Securities and (b) any other similar Registration Rights Agreement relating to Additional Securities.

“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.


“Regulation S Securities” means all Initial Securities offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

“Representatives” means Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, the representatives of the initial purchasers party to the Purchase Agreement entered into in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

“Restricted Period,” with respect to any Securities, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Securities are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Additional Securities that are Transfer Restricted Securities, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.

“Restricted Securities Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(f)(i) herein.

“Rule 501” means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

“Rule 144A Securities” means all Initial Securities offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

“Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Securities pursuant to the Registration Agreement.

“Transfer Restricted Global Security” means a Transfer Restricted Security that is a Global Security.

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Securities Legend.

“Unrestricted Global Security” means an Unrestricted Security that is a Global Security.

“Unrestricted Security” means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Securities Legend.

 

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1.2 Other Definitions.

 

Term:    Defined in Section:
Agent Members    2.1(b)
Global Securities    2.1(b)
Regulation S Global Securities    2.1(b)
Rule 144A Global Securities    2.1(b)
Regulation S Permanent Global Security    2.1(b)
Regulation S Temporary Global Security    2.1(b)

2. The Securities.

2.1 Form and Dating; Global Securities.

(a) The Initial Securities issued on the date hereof will be (i) offered and sold by the Issuers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Securities may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and, except as set forth below, IAIs in accordance with Rule 501. Additional Securities offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuers from time to time pursuant to one or more Purchase Agreements in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Global Securities. (i) Rule 144A Securities initially shall be represented by one or more Securities in definitive, fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Securities”).

Regulation S Securities initially shall be represented by one or more Securities in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Temporary Global Security” and, together with the Regulation S Permanent Global Security (defined below), the “Regulation S Global Securities”), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream.

The Restricted Period shall be terminated upon the receipt by the Trustee of an Officers’ Certificate certifying that the Restricted Period may be terminated in accordance with Regulation S and that beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Security are permitted to be exchanged for beneficial interests in the Regulation S Permanent Global Security.

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Security shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in a permanent Global Security (the “Regulation S Permanent Global Security”) pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depository. Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Security, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Security. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Security and the Regulation S Permanent Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

 

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The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Security and the Regulation S Permanent Global Security that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

The term “Global Securities” means the Rule 144A Global Securities and the Regulation S Global Securities. The Global Securities shall bear the Global Security Legend. The Global Securities initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Securities. The Depository may be treated by the Issuers, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Securities for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuers, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuers or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository, or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

(ii) Transfers of Global Securities shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Securities may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 2.2. In addition, a Global Security shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities if (x) the Depository (1) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for such Global Security and the Company thereupon fails to appoint a successor depository or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or (y) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Security be exchanged by the Issuers for Definitive Securities prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. In all cases, Definitive Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Security or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures.

(iii) In connection with the transfer of a Global Security as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Issuers shall execute, and, upon a written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in

 

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exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of authorized denominations.

(iv) Any Transfer Restricted Security delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Security pursuant to Section 2.2 shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2, bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in such Regulation S Global Security may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2.

(vi) The Holder of any Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

2.2 Transfer and Exchange.

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities. A Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b). Global Securities will not be exchanged by the Issuers for Definitive Securities except under the circumstances described in Section in Section 2.1(b)(ii). Global Securities also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Security may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b) or 2.2(g).

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Securities shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. Beneficial interests in Transfer Restricted Global Securities shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Beneficial interests in Global Securities shall be transferred or exchanged only for beneficial interests in Global Securities. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Securities also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Security. Beneficial interests in any Transfer Restricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Transfer Restricted Global Security in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Securities Legend; provided, however, that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Security may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). A beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.2(b)(i).

 

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(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any Global Security that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities contained in this Indenture and the Securities or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Security pursuant to Section 2.2(g).

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Transfer Restricted Global Security. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Transfer Restricted Global Security if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Security, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Security, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Security for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,

 

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and, in each such case, if the Company or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).

(v) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Security for Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Security. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security.

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities for Definitive Securities. A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be exchanged for a Definitive Security except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). In any case, beneficial interests in Global Securities shall be transferred or exchanged only for Definitive Securities.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Securities also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (ii) below, as applicable:

(i) Transfer Restricted Securities to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Securities. If any Holder of a Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security or to transfer such Transfer Restricted Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(B) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to a Qualified Institutional Buyer in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

 

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(C) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(D) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(E) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to an Institutional Accredited Investor in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel, if applicable; or

(F) if such Transfer Restricted Security is being transferred to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security;

the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Security, and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Transfer Restricted Global Security.

(ii) Transfer Restricted Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities. A Holder of a Transfer Restricted Security may exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Transfer Restricted Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security only if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or

(B) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Security to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,

and, in each such case, if the Company or the Registrar so requests or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this

 

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subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Securities and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Security. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).

(iii) Unrestricted Securities to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Securities. A Holder of an Unrestricted Security may exchange such Unrestricted Security for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security or transfer such Unrestricted Security to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Securities. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Security has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Securities transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).

(iv) Unrestricted Securities to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Securities. An Unrestricted Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Security.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Definitive Securities. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.2(e).

(i) Transfer Restricted Securities to Transfer Restricted Securities. A Transfer Restricted Security may be transferred to and registered in the name of a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Transfer Restricted Security if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;

 

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(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security;

(D) if the transfer will be made to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) above, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security; and

(E) if such transfer will be made to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Security.

(ii) Transfer Restricted Securities to Unrestricted Securities. Any Transfer Restricted Security may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Security or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Security if the Registrar receives the following:

(1) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for an Unrestricted Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security; or

(2) if the Holder of such Transfer Restricted Security proposes to transfer such Securities to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Security, a certificate from such Holder in the form attached to the applicable Security,

and, in each such case, if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Securities Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

(iii) Unrestricted Securities to Unrestricted Securities. A Holder of an Unrestricted Security may transfer such Unrestricted Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Securities pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

(iv) Unrestricted Securities to Transfer Restricted Securities. An Unrestricted Security cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Security.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed,

 

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repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(f) Legend.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (ii), (iii) or (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Global Securities and the Definitive Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF APPLICABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND

 

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EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE.”

Each Definitive Security shall bear the following additional legends:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

“THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.”

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security that is a Definitive Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Definitive Security that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Initial Security).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Securities during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Securities Legend on such Initial Securities shall cease to apply and the requirements that any such Initial Securities be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Securities pursuant to which Holders of such Initial Securities are offered Exchange Securities in exchange for their Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to Initial Securities that Initial Securities be issued in global form shall continue to apply, and Exchange Securities in global form without the Restricted Securities Legend shall be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Initial Security acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Initial Security bear the Restricted Securities Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Initial Security be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

 

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(vi) Any Additional Securities sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

(g) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Security. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Securities.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuers shall execute and, upon a written order of each Issuer signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Securities and Global Securities at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuers may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).

(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Issuers, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Issuers, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(iv) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(i) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository)

 

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of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to the Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

[Restricted Securities Legend]

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS NOTE MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.

THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS NOTE MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (III) PURSUANT TO AN

 

A-1


EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF APPLICABLE) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS NOTE FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN CLAUSE (A) ABOVE.

Each Temporary Regulation S Security shall bear the following additional legend:

THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION ORIGINALLY EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, ANY U.S. PERSON EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ALL APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. TERMS USED ABOVE HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

Each Definitive Security shall bear the following additional legend:

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

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[FORM OF INITIAL SECURITY]

 

No.    $                

8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019

 

     

CUSIP No.

     

ISIN No.

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation, and VERSO PAPER INC., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to [            ], or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [            ] Dollars [, or such other amount as is listed on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto]1 on February 1, 2019.

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2011.

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
VERSO PAPER INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

1 Use the Schedule of Increases and Decreases language if Security is in Global Form.

 

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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
Dated:  

 

 

*/ If the Security is to be issued in global form, add the Global Securities Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY”.

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019

 

1. Interest

(a) VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”) and VERSO PAPER INC., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Finance Co.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Issuers shall pay interest semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing August 1, 2011. Interest on the Securities shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from January 26, 2011 until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Securities, and they shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

(b) Registration Rights Agreement. The Holder of this Security is entitled to the benefits of a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2011, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Issuers shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the January 15 or July 15 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Securities to the Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuers shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuers shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) at the office of the Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Securities may also be made, in the case of a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

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3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wilmington Trust Company (the “Trustee”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

4. Indenture

The Issuers issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of January 26, 2011 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “TIA”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms and provisions.

The Securities are second priority senior secured obligations of the Issuers. This Security is one of the Initial Securities referred to in the Indenture. The Securities include the Original Securities, any Additional Securities and any Exchange Securities issued in exchange for the Original Securities or any Additional Securities pursuant to the Indenture. The Original Securities, any Additional Securities and any Exchange Securities are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of capital stock of the Company and such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Issuers and each Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Issuers under the Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the Guarantors have, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations on a second priority senior secured basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth in the following two paragraphs, the Securities shall not be redeemable at the option of the Issuers prior to February 1, 2015. On or after February 1, 2015, the Securities shall be redeemable at the option of the Issuers, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid

 

A-6


interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on February 1 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2015

     104.375

2016

     102.188

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, prior to February 1, 2015, the Issuers may redeem the Securities at their option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to February 1, 2014, the Issuers may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Securities), with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Company or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Company, in each case, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company from it, at a redemption price equal to 108.75% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, to the redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Securities) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. Notice of any redemption upon any such Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

 

6. Sinking Fund

The Securities are not subject to any sinking fund.

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in

 

A-7


part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

8. Repurchase of Securities at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuers to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuers will be required to offer to purchase Securities upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9. Ranking and Collateral

These Securities and the Note Guaranties are secured by a second priority security interest in the Collateral pursuant to certain Security Documents. The Second Priority Liens upon any and all Collateral are, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, subordinate in ranking to all present and future First Priority Liens and will be of equal ranking with all present and future Parity Liens as set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of Securities in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Securities to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

A-8


12. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuers at their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, the Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuers for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

13. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Issuers at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Issuers deposit with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities (voting as a single class) and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuers, Guarantors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to conform any provision to the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Circular; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company or Successor Co-Issuer of the obligations of the Issuers under the Indenture and the Securities; (iv) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture and its Note Guaranty; (v) to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture; (vi) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities (provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code); (vii) to add additional assets as Collateral, (viii) to release Collateral from the Lien pursuant to the Indenture and the Security Documents when permitted or required by the Indenture or the Security Documents; (ix) to add additional Note Guaranties with respect to the Securities or to secure the Securities; (x) to add additional covenants of the Issuers for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred in the Indenture upon the Issuers; (xi) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the TIA; (xii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder; or (xiii) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Securities or Additional Securities. In addition, without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Security Documents may be amended to reflect the addition of holders of additional Secured Indebtedness to the extent the grant of Liens to secure such Indebtedness is permitted by the Indenture.

 

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15. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary) with respect to the Securities and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, in each case, by notice to the Issuers, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Securities shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Securities unless (i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with the Issuers

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuers or their Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

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17. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any equity interests in the Issuers or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Securities, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.

 

18. Authentication

This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

 

19. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20. Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

The Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder of Securities upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security.

 

A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                                          agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

 

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:  

 

    

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee      Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

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CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES

This certificate relates to $                 principal amount of Securities held in (check applicable space)              book-entry or              definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨       has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security held by the Depository a Security or Securities in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Security (or the portion thereof indicated above);
¨       has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Security or Securities.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that such Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)    

   ¨    to either of the Issuers; or

(2)    

   ¨    to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

(3)    

   ¨    pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)    

   ¨    inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(5)    

   ¨    outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933 and such Security shall be held immediately after the transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or

(6)    

   ¨    to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and

 

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      agreements; or

(7)    

   ¨    pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Issuers or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Issuers or the Trustee have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:  

 

    

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee      Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

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TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuers as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated:  

 

   

 

      NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

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[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this Global Security is $                        . The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security

  

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security

  

Principal amount of this
Global Security following
such decrease or increase

  

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian

           
           
           

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by either of the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:

 

   Asset Sale  ¨       Change of Control  ¨   

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by either of the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, state the amount ($2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000):

$

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)

Signature Guarantee:                                                                                                              

 

   Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee   

 

A-17


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

B-1


No.    $                        

8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019

 

         CUSIP No.
         ISIN No.

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation, and VERSO PAPER INC., a Delaware corporation, jointly and severally promise to pay to [            ], or its registered assigns, the principal sum of [            ] Dollars [, or such other amount as is listed on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto]2 on February 1, 2019.

Interest Payment Dates: February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2011.

Record Dates: January 15 and July 15

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
VERSO PAPER INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

2

Use the Schedule of Increases and Decreases language if Security is in Global Form.

 

B-2


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Dated:                                         

 

*/ If the Security is to be issued in global form, add the Global Securities Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY”.

 

B-3


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY]

8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019

 

1. Interest

VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”) and VERSO PAPER INC., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Finance Co.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”), jointly and severally promise to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Issuers shall pay interest semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing August 1, 2011. Interest on the Securities shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from January 26, 2011 until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Issuers shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Securities, and they shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Issuers shall pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the January 15 or July 15 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Securities to the Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuers shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Issuers shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) at the office of the Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Issuers, payment of interest may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on the Securities may also be made, in the case of a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wilmington Trust Company (the “Trustee”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Issuers may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

B-4


4. Indenture

The Issuers issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of January 26, 2011 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “TIA”). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the Holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of such terms and provisions.

The Securities are second priority senior secured obligations of the Issuers. This Security is one of the Initial Securities referred to in the Indenture. The Securities include the Original Securities, any Additional Securities and any Exchange Securities issued in exchange for the Original Securities or any Additional Securities pursuant to the Indenture. The Original Securities, any Additional Securities and any Exchange Securities are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, pay dividends and other distributions, incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, issue or sell shares of capital stock of the Company and such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Issuers and each Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

To guarantee the due and punctual payment of the principal and interest on the Securities and all other amounts payable by the Issuers under the Indenture and the Securities when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, according to the terms of the Securities and the Indenture, the Guarantors have, jointly and severally, unconditionally guaranteed the Guaranteed Obligations on a second priority senior secured basis pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5. Optional Redemption

Except as set forth in the following two paragraphs, the Securities shall not be redeemable at the option of the Issuers prior to February 1, 2015. On or after February 1, 2015, the Securities shall be redeemable at the option of the Issuers, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on February 1 of the years set forth below:

 

B-5


Period

   Redemption Price  

2015

     104.375

2016

     102.188

2017 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, prior to February 1, 2015, the Issuers may redeem the Securities at their option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail to each Holder’s registered address, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to February 1, 2014, the Issuers may redeem in the aggregate up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Securities), with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Company or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Company, in each case, to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company from it, at a redemption price equal to 108.75% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, to the redemption date (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Securities (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Securities) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed to each Holder of Securities being redeemed and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. Notice of any redemption upon any such Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof, and any such redemption or notice may, at the Issuers’ discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering.

 

6. Sinking Fund

The Securities are not subject to any sinking fund.

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his, her or its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with a Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date, interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption.

 

B-6


8. Repurchase of Securities at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to cause the Issuers to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Issuers will be required to offer to purchase Securities upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9. Ranking and Collateral

These Securities and the Note Guaranties are secured by a second priority security interest in the Collateral pursuant to certain Security Documents. The Second Priority Liens upon any and all Collateral are, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Intercreditor Agreement, subordinate in ranking to all present and future First Priority Liens and will be of equal ranking with all present and future Parity Liens as set forth in Article 10 of the Indenture and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Securities are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. A Holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of Securities in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or to transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days prior to a selection of Securities to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

12. Unclaimed Money

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuers at their written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, the Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuers for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and a Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

B-7


13. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Issuers at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Issuers deposit with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities (voting as a single class) and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder, the Issuers, Guarantors and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Securities

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to conform any provision to the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Circular; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company or Successor Co-Issuer of the obligations of the Issuers under the Indenture and the Securities; (iv) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor of the obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture and its Note Guaranty; (v) to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture; (vi) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities (provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code); (vii) to add additional assets as Collateral, (viii) to release Collateral from the Lien pursuant to the Indenture and the Security Documents when permitted or required by the Indenture or the Security Documents; (ix) to add additional Note Guaranties with respect to the Securities or to secure the Securities; (x) to add additional covenants of the Issuers for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred in the Indenture upon the Issuers; (xi) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the TIA; (xii) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder; or (xiii) to provide for the issuance of the Exchange Securities or Additional Securities. In addition, without notice to or consent of any Holder, the Security Documents may be amended to reflect the addition of holders of additional Secured Indebtedness to the extent the grant of Liens to secure such Indebtedness is permitted by the Indenture.

 

15. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default occurs (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary) with respect to the Securities and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, in each case, by notice to the Issuers, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable

 

B-8


immediately. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Issuers or a Significant Subsidiary occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Securities shall become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense and certain other conditions are complied with. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Securities unless (i) such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy, (iii) such Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity and (v) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with the Issuers

Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuers or their Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or their Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

17. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or holder of any equity interests in the Issuers or of any Guarantor or any direct or indirect parent corporation, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Securities, the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.

 

B-9


18. Authentication

This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

 

19. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20. Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

The Issuers have caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

The Issuers will furnish to any Holder of Securities upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security.

 

B-10


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to:

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint                                  agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

        Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.

Signature Guarantee:

 

Date:  

 

   

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee     Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

B-11


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:

 

Asset Sale ¨   Change of Control ¨

If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, state the amount ($2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000):

$

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 

  Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee

 

B-12


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this Global Security is $                        . The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

  Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security
    Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
Global Security
    Principal amount of this
Global Security following
such decrease or increase
    Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian
 
       

 

B-13


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF]

TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION

Verso Paper Holdings LLC

Verso Paper Inc.

c/o Wilmington Trust Company

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE ###-###-####

Attention of: Corporate Capital Markets – Verso Paper Administrator

Facsimile: (302)  ###-###-####

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[            ] principal amount of 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Securities”) of VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC and VERSO PAPER INC. (together, the “Issuers”).

Upon transfer, the Securities would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

Name:                                                              

Address:                                                      

Taxpayer ID Number:                               

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $100,000 principal amount of the Securities, and we are acquiring the Securities not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Securities, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Securities in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Securities to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Securities prior to the date that is two years after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which either the Issuers or any affiliate of such Issuer was the owner of such Securities (or any predecessor thereto) (the

 

C-1


“Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) in the United States to a person whom we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in rule 144A under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (b) outside the United States in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (c) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if applicable) or (d) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, we will, and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Security evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Securities is proposed to be made to an institutional “accredited investor” prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Issuers and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Issuers and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Securities pursuant to clause 2(b), 2(c) or 2(d) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Issuers and the Trustee.

Dated:                                         

 

TRANSFEREE:                                            ,

 

By:  

 

 

C-2


EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of [            ], among [GUARANTOR] (the “New Guarantor”), a subsidiary of VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC (or its successor), a Delaware limited liability corporation (the “Company”), the Company, VERSO PAPER INC., a Delaware corporation (“Finance Co.” and, together with the Company, the “Issuers”) and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS the Issuers and the existing Guarantors have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”) dated as of January 26, 2011, providing for the issuance of the Issuers’ 8.75% Second Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Securities”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $360,000,000;

WHEREAS Section 4.11 of the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Issuers are required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall unconditionally guarantee all the Issuers’ obligations under the Securities pursuant to a Note Guaranty on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee, the Issuers and the existing Guarantors are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, the Issuers and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities as follows:

1. Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “Holders” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “Holders” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders of Securities. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

2. Agreement to Note Guaranty. The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to unconditionally guarantee the Issuers’ obligations under the Securities on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article 12 of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Securities and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

 

D-1


3. Notices. All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

5. Governing Law. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

6. Trustee Makes No Representation. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.

7. Counterparts. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

8. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not effect the construction thereof.

 

D-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

[NEW GUARANTOR]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
VERSO PAPER HOLDINGS LLC
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
VERSO PAPER INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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